IGuyana

“IZwe Lamanzi”—yincazelo yegama elithi “Guyana” lena, izwe eliseNingizimu Melika elimngcele walo oseningizimu uqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-130 enkabazwe. Yeka ukuthi lifaneleka kangakanani lelo gama ngoba imifula engaphezu kuka-40 nemingenela eminingi ithola amanzi emahlathini emvula atshaliwe nawemvelo athatha indawo engamakhilomitha-skwele angu-215 000 eGuyana! Eminye yale mifula iyimingcele yeGuyana neBrazil, iSuriname neVenezuela. Imifula iyinsika yokuphila ezindaweni eziphakathi nezwe, lapho amadolobha amancane namapulazi ethe chithi saka nezingu zayo. Yebo, ezomnotho nomlando waseGuyana—kanye nowabantu bakaJehova—kuhlobene eduze nemifula yakhona.

Kusukela entshonalanga kuya empumalanga, imifula emine emikhulu yi-Essequibo, iDemerara, iBerbice neCourantyne. I-Essequibo, omude kunayo yonke, ungamakhilomitha angu-1 000 ubude nangu-30 ububanzi esizalweni sawo futhi uneziqhingi ezingu-365. Esinye sazo, iFort Island, sasiyikomkhulu ngenkathi kusaphethe amaDashi. Kusukela eziphethwini zayo ezisezintabeni eziphakathi nezwe ngaseningizimu, le mifula emikhulu igelezela enyakatho ngaphambi kokuba igwingcize inqamule imisweswe yezimfunda ezisogwini ize iyothela kuyi-Atlantic. Njengoba yehla, kwezinye izindawo amanzi ayo ayadilika akhe ezinye zezimpophoma ezinhle kakhulu emhlabeni, njengeKaieteur Falls, eyakhiwa uMfula iPotaro ongamamitha angu-120 ububanzi, ongenela emfuleni i-Essequibo. Ingxenye yokuqala yale mpophoma iphakeme ngamamitha angu-226.

Njengoba inezinto zemvelo eziningi kangaka ezikhangayo, iGuyana iyipharadesi kubathandi bemvelo. Emifuleni yakhona kukhona imithini emikhulu, izingwenya ezimnyama nezinhlanzi zohlobo lwama-pirarucu, noma ama-Arapaima, eziphakathi kwezinhlanzi ezinkulu kunazo zonke kwezasemifuleni ezisatholakele. Lab’ ofeleba abahogela umoya ngaphandle kwamanzi futhi abadla inyama, bangakhula babe amamitha amathathu ubude futhi babe nesisindo samakhilogremu angu-220. Phansi kucathama izilwane ezifana nezingwe kula mahlathi anamathunzi, kanti phezulu kuchwaza izinkawu eziklewulayo emithini, eziyihlanganyela nezinhlobo ezingaphezu kuka-700 zezinyoni, phakathi kwazo okukhona nezinkozi, izinyoni ezimibalabala ezifana nopholi kanye nezifana nomkholwane.

Abantu baseGuyana bacela ku-770 000. Kuleli nani kunamaNdiya aseMpumalanga, okhokho bawo abasuka kwelaseNdiya beyizisebenzi ezibambe amatoho; abansundu, abawuzalo lwezigqila zase-Afrika; amaNdiya aseMelika (ama-Arawak, amaCarib, amaWapisiana namaWarrau); nabantu abaxubile. Yize kukhulunywa ulimi oluxubile kulo lonke izwe, isiNgisi yisona esiwulimi olusemthethweni, okwenza iGuyana ibe ukuphela kwezwe elikhuluma isiNgisi eNingizimu Melika.

Amanzi Eqiniso Afika EGuyana

Ngonyaka cishe ka-1900, “amanzi” anika ukuphila, acima ukoma kwabantu okungokomoya, aqala ukuconsela eGuyana. (Joh. 4:14) Umlisa ogama lakhe nguPeter Johassen, owayesebenza endaweni okwakugawulwa kuyo imithi ngaseMfuleni iCourantyne, wathola i-Zion’s Watch Tower and Herald of Christ’s Presence. Waxoxela uMnumzane Elgin ngayo, owabe esebhalela i-Watch Tower Society ecela izincwadi zeBhayibheli ezengeziwe, ezihlanganisa nethi Divine Plan of the Ages. Yize u-Elgin engabambelelanga emaqinisweni ayewafundile, wenza abanye bawathanda. Umphumela waba ukwakhiwa kweqembu elincane eNew Amsterdam, esesizalweni soMfula iBerbice.

U-Edward Phillips wathola izincwadi ngaleso sikhathi eGeorgetown, inhloko-dolobha yeGuyana, ezazikhishwa ama-International Bible Student, njengoba babaziwa kanjalo oFakazi BakaJehova ngaleso sikhathi. Eshisekela ukuzihlanganyela nabanye izinto ayezifunda, uPhillips wayeqoqela izihlobo nabangane bakhe kwakhe abese exoxa nabo njalo ngeBhayibheli. Ngo-1908 wabhalela i-Watch Tower Society ecela ukuba ithumele ummeleli wayo eGuyana, ngaleso sikhathi eyayibizwa ngokuthi iBritish Guiana.a Ngemva kweminyaka emine, kwafika u-Evander J. Coward futhi wethula izinkulumo zeBhayibheli kubantu abaningi ababebuthana emahholo amadolobha eGeorgetown naseNew Amsterdam.

Indodana kaPhillips, uFrederick, ikhumbula ukufika kukaCoward. Iyabhala: “Kungakapheli sikhathi, uMfoweth’ uCoward wayesaziwa eGeorgetown, futhi ngenxa yesigijimi ayesishumayela, abathakazelayo baqala ukuhlanganyela neqembu lethu labaFundi BeBhayibheli. Ngalezo zinsuku, sasifunda izincwadi ezinjengethi The Divine Plan of the Ages, The New Creation, nezinye. Ngokushesha umuzi wakithi waba mncane kakhulu, ngakho ngo-1913 saqasha ikamelo eliphezulu eSomerset House eGeorgetown. Ibandla laqhubela kulo imihlangano kwaze kwaba ngo-1958.” Ngo-1914, u-Edward Phillips waphinde wavula umuzi wakhe, manje waba ihhovisi legatsha lokuqala laseGuyana. Waba umbonisi wehhovisi waze washona ngo-1924.

Ukubukiswa kwefilimu yama-slide i-“Photo-Drama of Creation” ngo-1916 kwafaka umfutho emsebenzini wokushumayela. “Ngaleso sikhathi kwakunokuthula nokuchuma okukhulu ngokomoya,” kubhala uFrederick. “Amaphephandaba aze ashicilela nochungechunge lwezintshumayelo zikaCharles T. Russell, umFundi WeBhayibheli owayehola.”

Ngo-1917 sase sishintshile isimo eGuyana. Izwe lase lidunguzela impi, futhi umfundisi wakhona odumile wacela umphakathi ukuba uthandazele iBrithani namazwe awumbimbi nayo. Encwadini ayibhalela abezindaba, uCoward wahlaziya isimo sezwe ngokombono wesiprofetho seBhayibheli. Futhi eHholo LeDolobha LaseGeorgetown wanikeza inkulumo evuth’ uphondo ethi “Ukudiliza Izindonga ZeBhabhiloni.”

“Abefundisi bavuk’ inj’ ebomvu,” kusho umbiko we-Nqabayokulinda ka-October 1, 1983, “kangangokuba bahlohla iziphathimandla ukuba zixoshe uMfoweth’ uCoward futhi izincwadi zethu eziningana zivinjelwe, ukuvinjelwa okwaphela ngo-1922.” Nokho, abantu abaningi babemhlonipha uCoward ngokufakaza kwakhe ngesibindi. Eqinisweni, mhlazane ehamba, bama esikhumulweni semikhumbi, bememeza: “Uyena yedwa obeshumayela iqiniso.” Ngisho nezisebenzi zasesikhumulweni zasongela ngokuthi zizoteleka ngenxa yokuxoshwa kukaCoward, kodwa abazalwane bazikhuza.

Ngemva kwempi yezwe yokuqala, abaFundi BeBhayibheli babhekana novivinyo olucashile olwathi ukuthiya ukusakazwa kweqiniso loMbuso isikhashana. Umzalwane owayekade eyilungu lezikhonzi zasendlunkulu eBrooklyn kodwa eseyisihlubuki, wavakashela lapha eGuyana kaningana ezozama ukuhlubula abaFundi BeBhayibheli enhlanganweni.

“AbaFundi BeBhayibheli,” kusho le Nqabayokulinda eshiwo ngenhla, “bakuleli zwe bake bahlukana baba izigaba ezintathu, esinye sithembekile enhlanganweni, esinye siphikisa, esesithathu singazi ukuthi simiphi. Kodwa isibusiso sikaJehova sasiseqenjini elalithembekile, futhi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi lachuma.” Kulabo abathembekile kwakunoMalcolm Hall noFelix Powlett, ababhapathizwa ngo-1915 nango-1916. Bobabili baqhubeka beyizinceku zikaJehova ezishisekayo futhi baphila baze beva eminyakeni engu-90 ubudala.

Ukuze laba bazalwane abathembekile bakhuthazwe ngokuqhubekayo, kwafika uGeorge Young eGuyana evela endlunkulu ngo-1922, wahlala izinyanga ezingaba ntathu. “Wayeyisisebenzi esingakhathali,” kusho uFelix Powlett. Ulwazi lukaYoung lwemiBhalo, iphimbo lakhe elinamandla, indlela ayelinganisa ngayo lapho ekhuluma, nezinsiza-kufundisa zakhe zenza abaningi balihlolisisa iZwi likaNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yemibiko kaYoung, INqabayokulinda ka-January 1, 1923, yakhuluma “ngesithakazelo esikhulu esase sikhona eqinisweni kuleyo ngxenye yomhlaba, ukwanda kwabeza kuyo yonke imihlangano bagcwalise amahholo, nokwanda kwentshiseko nokuzinikela kubazalwane.” ESomerset House, ngokwesibonelo isilinganiso sabantu ababeba khona emihlanganweni sasingu-100, yize babecishe babe ngu-25 kuphela abamemezeli boMbuso ngaleso sikhathi.

Ngo-1923 abafowethu benza nemizamo yokufika kubantu abaphakathi nezwe. Babejwayele ukuphatha useyili wokwenza umbhede ontengayo nezincwadi, bethembele ekutheni abantu abaphanayo bayobapha ukudla. Uma othile ebanika indawo yokulala, babelala. Ngaphandle kwalokho, babezibophelela useyili wabo emagatsheni emithi balale lapho, ngokuvamile behlushwa iqulo lomiyane. Ngakusasa ekuseni babefunda umBhalo wetekisi encwadini ethi Daily Heavenly Manna, eyayikhishwa inhlangano kaJehova, bese bengena indlela noma bagingqe izithupha ezikebheni baye endaweni elandelayo.

Imizamo yokufika ezindaweni ezikude nakakhulu yaqhubeka kwaze kwaba iMpi Yezwe II lapho uphethiloli usukhishwa ngesilinganiso, okwakwenza kube nzima ukuhamba. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, abaFundi BeBhayibheli bathola igama elithi oFakazi BakaJehova ngo-1931. Amaqembu amancane abaFundi BeBhayibheli ayesakazeke esifundeni esisogwini alamukela ngesasasa igama elisha futhi abonisa leyo ntshiseko ngenkonzo enomfutho. Ekupheleni kwawo-1930, abamemezeli baqala ukusebenzisa amagilamafomu adlala izinkulumo zeBhayibheli eziqoshiwe ensimini. UFrederick Phillips, umqondisi wegatsha ngaleso sikhathi, uyabhala: “Yayingekho imisakazo emaphandleni ngalezo zinsuku, ngakho uphawu lokuqala lokuthi sikhona endaweni kwakuba umsindo womculo emoyeni opholile onomswakama. Umculo wawulandelwa izinkulumo eziqoshiwe. Cishe bonk’ abantu emphakathini babesingunga, abanye besagqoke izingubo zokulala.”

Iziteshi zomsakazo nazo zaba neqhaza ekusakazeni izindaba ezinhle. Esinye isiteshi eGuyana sasisakaza isigijimi soMbuso njalo ngeSonto nangoLwesithathu. USathane wayekubona konke lokhu, wabe esesebenzisa kabi ukushisekela ubuzwe kwangeMpi Yezwe II ukuze aphazamise umsebenzi.

IMpi Yezwe II Nomsebenzi Wangemva Kwempi

Ngo-1941, ingakapheli impi yezwe yesibili, bangu-52 abamemezeli boMbuso ababebika eGuyana. Ngawo lowo nyaka, INqabayokulinda ne-Consolation (manje i-Phaphama!) yavalwa. Ngo-1944 kwavalwa zonke izincwadi ezazikhishwa abantu bakaJehova. “Kwavalwa ngisho namakhophi eBhayibheli Elingcwele angabhaliwe ukuthi Watch Tower kodwa ayeyizinguqulo nje ezinyatheliswe ezinye izinhlangano zamaBhayibheli, zavalwa koFakazi bakaJehova,” kusho umbiko we-Nqabayokulinda ka-July 1, 1946.

Ngo-April 1946, uNathan Knorr wasendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke wavakashela eGuyana. Wayehamba noWilliam Tracy owayesanda kuphothula eGileyadi. Umgomo wabo kwakuwukukhuthaza abafowethu futhi banxuse uhulumeni ukuba aqede ukuvinjelwa. Emhlanganweni owawuseGeorgetown, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wachazela abafowethu abangu-180 nabantu abathakazelayo ababelapho ukuthi abafundi bakaJesu bokuqala babengenawo amaBhayibheli nezincwadi zokubasiza enkonzweni yabo. Noma kunjalo, uJehova wababusisa ngokwanda okumangalisayo. Ngani? Ngoba baqhubeka beshumayela. Ngeke yini uNkulunkulu azibusise ngokufanayo izinceku zakhe zanamuhla lapho ziqhubeka nomsebenzi? Impela, uyozibusisa!

Kanti-ke nabafowethu babeqhubeka befuna izindlela ezingokomthetho zokuba ukuvinjelwa kuqedwe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngaphansana nje konyaka kuphelé impi, bathola abantu abangu-31 370 abasayina isikhalazo sokuvinjelwa kwethu. Lesi sikhalazo sethulwa kuhulumeni. Okunye futhi, ukuze abantu baseGuyana bazi ukuthi kwakuqhubekani, inhlangano kaJehova yakhipha ipheshana elichaza wonke amaqiniso. Isihloko esikhulu sasithi: “IBHAYIBHELI ELINGCWELE LIVINJELWE EBRITISH GUIANA—ABANTU ABANGU-31 000 BASAYINA ISIKHALAZO ESIYA KUMBUSI ukuze bonke abantu bakuleli koloni babuyiselwe inkululeko yokukhulekela, kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bakhonzaphi.”

Ngaphezu kwalokhu, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wabonana nonobhala wombusi, uW. L. Heape, emcela ukuba ukuvinjelwa kuqedwe. Ekupheleni kwengxoxo eyathatha isigamu sehora, uMfoweth’ uKnorr wanikeza uMnumzan’ uHeape incwadi ethi “IQiniso Liyakunikhulula” wamcela ukuba azinike isikhathi sokuyifunda. Wathi uzoyifunda. Ngaphandle kwalokho, watshela uMfoweth’ uKnorr ukuthi amalungu angu-9 esigungu empeleni ayephezu kwayo le ndaba yokuvinjelwa kwezincwadi zethu! Kwakuyiqiniso loko ngoba ngo-June 1946, umbusi wakhipha isimemezelo esikuqedayo ukuvinjelwa.

Ngemva nje kwalokho, kwadedelwa amabhokisi angu-130 agcwele uthuli, anezincwadi nezincwajana ezingu-11 798 anikezwa abafowethu. Bejatshuliswe ukuthi sebeyakwazi ukuhambisa izincwadi futhi, abamemezeli boMbuso abase bengu-70 bazihambisa zonke lezo zincwadi ngamasonto ayishumi nje kuphela. Ngo-August abafowethu baqala nokufakaza emgwaqweni, kwaba nemiphumela emihle. “Omagazini babehamba ubuthaphuthaphu njengamaphephandaba alapha,” kubika igatsha.

Ngisho nalapho umsebenzi uvinjelwe, abafowethu babeqhubeka bethola ukudla okungokomoya okuyigugu, omunye wabantu abasiza umfowethu owayesebenza eposini eGeorgetown. Uyabhala: “Ngangizizwa nginesibopho sokuqiniseka ukuthi amakhophi e-Nqabayokulinda ayafika egatsheni. Ngosizo lodade, amakhophi ezihloko ezifundwayo ayebhalwa ngomshini noma anyatheliswe bese enikezwa imikhaya ukuze iwasebenzise emihlanganweni.”

Izithunywa Zevangeli Ezintsha Zifaka Umfutho Emsebenzini

Uma imoto egijimayo ishintsha amagiya, ikwazi ukugijima ngisho nakakhulu. EGuyana, ‘ukushintsha kwamagiya’ ngokuqondene nomsebenzi wokushumayela kwenzeka lapho kufika izithunywa zevangeli eziqeqeshwe eGileyadi maphakathi nawo-1940. Kuzona kwakunoWilliam Tracy, owaphothula ekilasini lesithathu, uJohn noDaisy Hemmaway, uRuth no-Alice Miller, abaphothula ekilasini lesihlanu. Lab’ oFakazi abashisekayo bacobelela abazalwane balapha izinto ezinhle ababezifunde eGileyadi, futhi babeka isibonelo esihle ensimini.

UMfoweth’ uTracy wayekhathazeka ngabantu ababehlala ezindaweni ezisemajukujukwini. Wabhala: “Ngalihlola izwe, ngehla ngenyuka esifundeni esisogwini futhi ngenyusa nemifula ukuze ngixoxe nabantu abathakazelayo abangabodwa futhi ngithole abanye abathakazelayo. Ngangihamba ngesitimela esigudla ugu, ngamabhasi, ngebhayisekili, ngezikebhe ezinkulu nezincane, ngisho nangezihlenga.”

Izithunywa zevangeli zasiza namaphayona ukuba ahleleke ukuze akwazi ukusebenza insimu ngendlela ehlelekile futhi uma izimo zawo zivuma, azikhandle ayokhonza emasimini angakaze athintwe. Khumbula ukuthi ngo-1946 kwakunamabandla amahlanu nje kuphela eGuyana nabamemezeli boMbuso abangu-91. Kodwa ayikho inselele eyehlula abantu abaqiniswa umoya ongcwele kaNkulunkulu.—Zak. 4:6.

Ekuqaleni, iningi lamaphayona ayesebenza nezithunywa zevangeli lalikhulile ngeminyaka. Naphezu kobudala, abonisa umoya omuhle ngomsebenzi. Kuwona kwakuno-Isaac Graves, uGeorge Headley, uLeslie Mayers, uRockliffe Pollard noGeorge Yearwood. Kodade kwakunoMargaret Dooknie, u-Ivy Hinds, uFrances Jordan, uFlorence Thom, u-Atalanta Williams, noPrincess Williams (abahlobene neze). Behlome ngezincwadi, izincwajana nomagazini, bayisa isigijimi soMbuso ezindaweni ezikude.

U-Ivy Hinds (osengowakwaWyatt) noFlorence Thom (osengowakwaBrissett) babelwa edolobheni laseBartica ngaseMfuleni i-Essequibo, engamakhilomitha angu-80 uma uya phakathi nezwe. Leli dolobha lalisemzileni oya ezimayini zegolide nezedayimane ezimaphakathi nezwe. Kwakunomzalwane oyedwa owayehlala lapha. UJohn Ponting, owayengumbonisi wegatsha nombonisi wesifunda ngaleso sikhathi uyabhala: “Ngezinyanga ezimbili nje kuphela bangu-20 abase beza ezifundweni, kwabakhona abangu-50 eSikhumbuzweni.” Omunye wabamukela iqiniso kwakungumlisa okuthiwa uJerome Flavius. Wayeyimpumputhe. “Akuphelanga sikhathi, wayesenikeza izinkulumo engasizwa muntu ngemva kokuba u-Ivy Hinds emfundele kaningi indaba yaleyo nkulumo,” kusho uJohn.

Nakuba base bevile kakhulu eminyakeni engu-60 ubudala, odade abangamaphayona u-Esther Richmond noFrances Jordan bafunda ukuhamba ngebhayisekili ukuze bahlanganise insimu eyengeziwe. “UMargaret Dooknie, owayengasayikhumbuli iminyaka ayeyichithe ephayona, wayeye ahambe aze akhathale kangangokuba ngezinye izikhathi sasiye simfice elele ebhentshini epaki,” kusho uMfoweth’ uPonting. “Asisoze sabalibala abantu abanjalo.”

Zibaselwe isibonelo sezithunywa zevangeli namaphayona amadala, izingane eziningi zaqala ukungena ezinhlwini zamaphayona. Ngenxa yawo wonke lo msebenzi, abantu abengeziwe bangena eqinisweni, futhi kwakhiwa amaqembu namabandla ezindaweni ezihlukahlukene zezwe. Ngo-1948 kwakunabamemezeli abangu-220 eGuyana. Ngo-1954 lelo nani lafinyelela ku-434. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, iqembu labafowethu eKitty-Newtown elalihlanganyela eSomerset House landa laze lakwazi ukwakha ibandla elizimele—elibizwa ngokuthi iNewtown—okwakungelesibili enhloko-dolobha. Sikhuluma nje sekunamabandla angu-9 eGeorgetown.

Izinqola Ezinombhobho, Abahamba Ngamabhayisekili Nezimbongolo

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1950, ngaphansi kwesiqondiso sehhovisi legatsha, abafowethu babenikeza izinkulumo zeningi ezindaweni ezivulekile kuyo yonke iGeorgetown, ngokuvamile ngeMigqibelo kusihlwa nangamaSonto ntambama. Babesebenzisa inqola enombhobho ababezakhele yona. Yayinesikhulisa-msindo esinamandla, inemibhobho emibili emikhulu, izinti zemibhobho, nezintambo zikagesi. U-Albert Small, owabhapathizwa ngo-1949, uthi: “Emini kwakubekwa uqwembe endaweni yomhlangano. Lwaluthi ‘Imibuzo Yakho YeBhayibheli Iyaphendulwa’ bese lusho isikhathi somhlangano. Baningi ababeba khona kulezo zinkulumo, futhi abanye bangena eqinisweni kamuva.”

Ukuze babonise ukuthi kwakusazoba nokwanda okwengeziwe, uNathan Knorr nonobhala wakhe, uMilton Henschel, banikeza izinkulumo eGlobe Cinema eGeorgetown ekuqaleni kuka-1954. Wayekhona uJohn Ponting. Uyabika: “Zagcwala zonke izihlalo ezingu-1 400, abanye abangu-700 balalela ngemibhobho ngaphandle kwaze kwaba yilapho liyidliva imvula, abaningi baphoqeka ukuba bazimpintshe ngaphakathi. Isimiso sasisikhangisa ngabazalwane ababehamba ngamabhayisekili begaxe izingqwembe. Uma sekuhwalele, sasisikhangisa ngophawu olukhulu olukhanyayo olwaludonswa imbongolo eyayihamba nomzalwane owayesimemezela ngombhobho.”

Uhambo Olwengeziwe Lokuya Phakathi Nezwe

Ngesikhathi ekhonza njengombonisi wegatsha, uWilliam Tracy wakhuthaza abazalwane ukuba bafinyelele abantu abahlala emajukujukwini. Naye ngokwakhe waya ezifundeni zemifula i-Essequibo neBerbice futhi wahlela nemihlangano yesifunda yamaqembu amancane namabandla akhona. Yayivame ukuba ibe sezikoleni zomphakathi nasezindaweni zokubukela ibhayisikobho, futhi yizo kuphela ngokuvamile ezazizinkulu ngokwanele. Ngo-1949, emhlanganweni owawuseSuddie, eduze kwesizalo se-Essequibo, kwanikezwa inkulumo yeningi ethi “ISihogo Sisetshenziselwa Ukwethusa” eyathinta abaningi. Abanye baqala ukubiza oFakazi BakaJehova ngokuthi osihogo-kasikho.

Ngo-1950, uWilliam Tracy, owayesanda kushada, wabelwa emuva e-United States. UJohn Ponting wathatha indawo yakhe, waba umbonisi wegatsha nombonisi ojikelezayo. UJohn wasiza nasekusebenzeni enye insimu egudle imifula. Abafowethu babehamba ngemikhumbi evamile ethutha abantu. Kwakuthi endleleni, lapho abantu bendawo beza ngezihlenga zabo bezolanda futhi belethe iposi kule mikhumbi eyayithutha neposi, abafowethu babacele ukuba babaweze, bethembele ekuthini othile uzobapha ukudla nendawo yokulala. Babefakaza kuleyo ndawo kuthi ebusuku bangenise komunye wemikhaya. Ngakusasa othile wayeye abathwale ngesihlenga bewuse umfula ukuze bafakaze esigodini esilandelayo. Ngenye intambama bavakashela indawo okusahwa kuyo amapulangwe. Umphathi wayo wamisa umsebenzi, wabiza abantu, futhi wavumela umzalwane ukuba abanikeze inkulumo yemizuzu engu-15. Bonke bathatha izincwadi.

UThomas Markevich, owaphothula ekilasini lika-19 laseGileyadi, wabelwa eGuyana ngo-July 1952. Naye waya emasimini ayengakathintwa. UTom uthi: “Kuyintokozo ekhethekile ukuhlanganyela isigijimi soMbuso nomuntu ongakaze ashunyayezwe. Kodwa ngezinye izikhathi uthola isimanga, okuyinto eyenzeka kimi. Ngaya eDemerara ngesikebhe ngabe sengihamba ngiyongena phakathi esijwini sehlathi, ngazithela eqhugwaneni elincane. Umninindlu wangibingelela, wangingenisa endlini, wathi angihlale, wabe eselalela. Uma ngiqalaza endlini, ngamangala lapho ngiphawula ukuthi kuzo zonke izindonga kwakunamathiselwe amakhasi e-Nqabayokulinda, wonke kungawo-1940! Kusobala ukuthi umninindlu wayeke wasizwa isigijimi soMbuso ngaphambili, cishe esikebheni noma eGeorgetown noma eMackenzie.”

Isithunywa sevangeli uDonald Bolinger uyena owokuqala owathatha uhambo olukhandlayo olunqamula izwe lokuya empophomeni iKaieteur Falls. Ngenkathi eshumayeza amaNdiya aseMelika, wahlangana nesikhulu sikahulumeni esasisebenza nawo. Lo mlisa wagcina enikezele ukuphila kwakhe kuJehova futhi wanakekela iqembu lalapho elamiswa kamuva. Abanye abamemezeli bathuthela ezindaweni ezingazodwa ngenxa yomsebenzi wabo wokuziphilisa, njengasezifundeni ezinezimayini zedayimane noma igolide. Yize babebodwa, wawuye ubafice beshumayela emaqhugwaneni akuleyo ndawo. Yini eyabasiza bahlala beqinile ngokomoya? Babenesimiso esihle sokutadisha nokushumayela.

Inkonzo ‘Ejabulisayo Neyanelisayo’

Izithunywa zevangeli, uJohn noDaisy Hemmaway, zakhonza eGuyana kusukela ngo-1946 kuya ku-1961. Ngezinye izikhathi babeye bachithe amasonto amabili esikhathi sabo seholide esifundeni esisenyakatho-ntshonalanga, eduze kwaseVenezuela, lapho kwakukhona khona amaCarib, ama-Arawak, nezinye izizwe ezidabuka lapha. Bake bahambisela ama-Arawak izincwadi eziningi. Izindelakazi zamaKatolika ezaziphethe isikole salapha azikuthandanga neze lokho. Empeleni, zazibuza izingane ukuthi abazali bazo babezithathile yini izincwadi. Lapho abazali bezwa ngalo mbuzo, bathukuthela batshela umpristi ukuthi bazozikhethela bona ukuthi bafundani. Engafuni ukugoba, kwathi ngenkonzo yangeSonto umpristi wajivaza incwajana ethi Ungaphila Phakade Ngenjabulo Emhlabeni? eyayithathwe abaningi. Kodwa naleli qhinga labhuntsha ngoba ngosuku abahamba ngalo abakwaHemmaway, abantu abaningi baya kubo beyocela yona kanye le ncwajana.

Ukuze bafike kulesi sifunda, esisebangeni elingaba amakhilomitha angu-300 uma uya phakathi nezwe, uJohn noDaisy bahamba ngesikebhe, isitimela nangeloli. Bathatha izinto ababezozidinga kanye nezincwadi nebhayisekili ababezolidingela ukuhamba emigwaqweni ewubhuqu baze bayofika ezindledlaneni zamaNdiya. “Lezi zindlela,” kuchaza uJohn, “zibheke yonke indawo, futhi umuntu kumelwe asebenzise inkumbulo noma abekise ngezinswazi lapho zihlukana khona uma engafuni ukuduka lapho esebuya. Uma unqwamana nezilwane ezifana namabhubesi, okumelwe ukwenze ukuba ume ungathi nyaka ungasibhekile emehlweni. Sigcina sisukile endleleni ngaphandle komsindo. Izinkawu zona zihamba phezulu emithini, ziklabalasela abantu abaziphazamisayo, kanti esinye isilwane okuthiwa i-sloth, esithanda ukulenga sibheke phezulu, sibuka umuntu ngeso elivilaphayo njengoba edlula. Lapha nalaphaya ezindaweni ezivulekile, umuntu angase abone izinyoni ezimibalabala ezifana nomkholwane zidla upopo esihlahleni.”

Ngemva kweminyaka engu-15 eyisithunywa sevangeli eGuyana, uMfoweth’ uHemmaway wafingqa imizwa yakhe, kanje: “Iyajabulisa! Iyanelisa isibili! Ukuhlala phansi kungakhonkiwe endlini eyakhiwe ngesundu uxoxe namaNdiya aseMelika ngoMbuso kaNkulunkulu, uwafundise indlela entsha yokuphila, kukunikeza ukwaneliseka okungenakuqhathaniswa. Ukubona laba bantu abathobekile bamukela imfundiso yeBhayibheli bese benikezela ukuphila kwabo kuNkulunkulu kuyinto esingasoze sayilibala.”

Amaphayona Alapha Aya EGileyadi

Amaphayona amaningana alapha nawo athola ilungelo lokuya eSikoleni SaseGileyadi, futhi amanye abelwa khona eGuyana. Kuwona kunoFlorence Thom (osengowakwaBrissett), wekilasi lika-21 ngo-1953; u-Albert noSheila Small, wekilasi lika-31 ngo-1958; noFrederick McAlman, wekilasi lika-48 ngo-1970.

UFlorence Brissett uthi: “Ngangifisa ukwabelwa kwelinye izwe, kodwa ukwabelwa eSkeldon eGuyana kwaba isibusiso esivela kuJehova. Abaningi engangifunda nabo, othisha, abangane bami, nengangibajwayele bavuma uma ngicela ukubafundela ngoba babengazi. Empeleni, abanye babengicela ukuba ngibafundele! Kubo kuno-Edward King, omkakhe ngase ngimfundela kakade. Okuthakazelisayo ukuthi umpristi waseSheshi wezwa ukuthi umka-Edward uyafundelwa. Wabe esebiza u-Edward, wamtshela ukuthi akamyekise. Kodwa kunokuba amyekise, u-Edward waqala ukufunda kwayena.”

Ngemva kokubuya kwabakwaSmall eGileyadi, u-Albert wakhonza njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha nanjengombonisi wesifunda iminyaka eminingi. Kumanje nje, yena noSheila bayaqhubeka bekhonza njengamaphayona akhethekile ebandleni lalapha futhi uMfoweth’ uSmall ukhonza njengomdala, yize benezinkinga zempilo. Kodwa-ke, akubona bonke ababengabaseGuyana ababuye babelwa khona. Ngokwesibonelo, uLynette Peters, owaphothula ekilasini lika-48, wabelwa eSierra Leone. Namanje usakhonza ngokwethembeka esabelweni sakhe kulelo zwe.

Ifilimu Ivusa Isithakazelo

Ifilimu abayisebenzisa kabanzi oFakazi BakaJehova ngawo-1950 yayinesihloko esithi The New World Society in Action. Yayikhuluma ngendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke eBrooklyn nangomhlangano omkhulu owawuseYankee Stadium eNew York City ngo-1953. Le filimu yabasiza bonke—oFakazi kanye nabanye—ukuba bayiqonde kangcono inhlangano kaJehova nobukhulu bayo. Yabathinta nakakhulu-ke abantu ababehlala phakathi emahlathini, abaningi babo ababeyiqabuka ifilimu!

Ifilimu yayivame ukubukiswa endaweni evulekile enkompolo enkulu. Abantu babeye bahambe amabanga amade bezoyibuka. Ungase ubuze, ‘Kodwa abazalwane babeyibukisa kanjani ifilimu ezindaweni ezingenagesi?’ U-Alan Johnstone, owafika ngo-1957 evela eGileyadi wabe esekhonza njengombonisi wesifunda, wayibukisa kaningi le filimu. Uyabhala: “Ezindaweni ezazingenagesi, sasisebenzisa ama-generator esasiwatshelekwe ngomusa abantu bendawo ababewasebenzisela ukukhanyisa ezitolo zabo ebusuku. Sasisebenzisa ishidi elikhulu esasilibophela liqine ezihlahleni ezimbili libe i-screen.”

Ngelinye ilanga ngemva kokubukisa ifilimu, uJohn noDaisy Hemmaway babesemkhunjini sebegoduka. Abaningi emkhunjini babekade bezwile ngayo futhi befuna ukuyibuka. Ngakho, ngemva kokucela imvume kukaputeni, abakwaHemmaway benza i-screen endaweni yokuhlala emkhunjini babeka nomshini oveza izithombe egunjini elalinefasitela endaweni ekahle. “Kwakugibele nabapristi bamaKatolika nabamaSheshi,” kubhala uJohn. “Nakuba babengavumanga ukubuka ifilimu emakhaya, manje base beyibukela, nakuba hleze babengathandi. Empeleni, umshini oveza izithombe wawudlala usegunjini labo. Kamuva abagibeli babaphonsa imibuzo engaphendulwa uFakazi KaJehova kuphela.”

Ephawula ngamandla ale filimu, uJohn Ponting uyabhala: “Ukubukisa ifilimu ngaleyo minyaka kwakuba nemiphumela emihle ikakhulu ezindaweni oFakazi ababembalwa kuzo futhi bedelelekile. Abangabazayo bakwazi ukubona inhlangano enkulu exube izinhlanga, yomhlaba wonke futhi basihlonipha ngokwengeziwe. Yenza abaningi bashintsha isimo sabo futhi bamukela isifundo seBhayibheli. Abanye babo baba abadala kamuva. Ngamasonto amabili nje kuphela, umbonisi wesifunda wayibukisa izikhathi ezingu-17 le filimu, ngokuvamile kwakuba sendaweni evulekile, yabonwa abangu-5 000.

“Kolunye uhambo, olwaluhilela ukuhamba izinsuku ezimbili emfuleni ohamba uba nezimpophoma ezincane nokuhamba ehlathini ngezinyawo, umbonisi wesifunda wavuzwa kakhulu lapho amaNdiya amaningi eyijabulela le filimu—ayeqala ngqa ukubuka ifilimu. Ngakusasa, abantu abaningi bakule ndawo, iningi labo ababengabaseHabe, lamukela omagazini bethu. Ngenxa yalolu hambo, isimo sengqondo saso sonke lesi sigodi ngabantu bakaJehova sashintsha kakhulu.”

Kusukela ngo-1953 kuya ku-1966, eGuyana kwaba nothuthuva lwezombusazwe nolwezinhlanga. Iminyaka eyaba mibi kakhulu kwakungu-1961 kuya ku-1964, kwakubhikishwa, kuphangwa, kubulawa futhi kutelekwa. Izinto zokuhamba zaphela nokwesaba kwathi bhe. Abafowethu abashushiswanga ngokuqondile, kodwa abanye bahlupheka ngenxa yezimo ezazibhidlangile. Ngokwesibonelo, abafowethu ababili bashaywa, kwathi abanye ababili, kuhlanganise no-Albert Small, batholwa izinhlamvu zesibhamu kwadingeka ziyokhishwa esibhedlela. Kwaba kubi kwaze kwadingeka kungenele amasosha aseBrithani.

Yeka indlela okwakufaneleka ngayo ukuthi phakathi naleso sikhathi seziyaluyalu, ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action ikhulume ngabantu abavela kuzo zonke izizwe ababonakala benokuthula nobunye beqiniso! Ngaphandle kwalokho, abafowethu abakuvumelanga ukungabi khona kwezinto zokuhamba kubayekise ukuya emihlanganweni nasensimini. Babemane bahambe amabanga amade kunababewajwayele, noma bahambe ngamabhayisekili. Ngaphezu kwakho konke, babonisana uthando lobuKristu beqiniso. “Banakekelana futhi baphana,” kusho u-Albert Small.

Odade Bayahola Emsebenzini

Odade bayisa isigijimi soMbuso ezindaweni ezikude. U-Ivy Hinds noFlorence Thom, ngokwesibonelo, bamiswa njengamaphayona akhethekile eBartica, engasekupheleni kwehlathi. Kwakuhlala uMahadeo lapho, ummemezeli ongayedwa, nomkakhe uJamela. Njengamantombazane amaningi angamaNdiya aseMpumalanga ngaleso sikhathi, uJamela wayengayiswanga esikoleni ngakho wayengakwazi ukufunda nokubhala. Kodwa wayefuna ukuzifundela iBhayibheli futhi asize ekufundiseni abafana babo ababili abancane. “UJehova wawubusisa umzamo wami wokumfundisa,” kusho uFlorence, “washeshe wafunda ukufunda, ukubhala, nokufakaza kwabanye.”

Kwaze kwaphela izinyanga ezimbili uFlorence no-Ivy befikile bengakayitholi indawo ekahle yokuhlala. Babedinga nendawo yemihlangano, kwazise base beqhuba izifundo zeBhayibheli ezevile eshumini. Isimo saba bucayi lapho bethola isaziso sokuthi babezohanjelwa umbonisi wesifunda. Ngaphezu kwalokho, wayezobahambela ngalo kanye isonto okwakutheleka ngalo eBartica izisebenzi ezazivela maphakathi nezwe nenqwaba yezifebe zaseGeorgetown, okwakulikhuphula ngokuphindwe kathathu inani labantu kuleli dolobha!

Kodwa isandla sikaJehova asisifushane. UFlorence uyakhumbula: “Ngosuku olwandulela ukufika kombonisi wesifunda, ntambama nje impela, sabonana nomqashisi owavuma ukusiqashisela indlu encane enamakamelo amabili phakathi edolobheni. Sasebenzisa okwezinhlanya, sikolobha sipenda izindonga sabe sesipholisha phansi. Sagaxa amakhethini safaka nefenisha, saqeda sekuntwela ezansi. Awu, safa umsebenzi ubusuku bonke! UJohn Ponting, umbonisi wesifunda, akazange akholwe uma simxoxela. Ngobusuku bokuqala esihambele, kwaba khona abangu-22, okwasinika ithemba lokuthi liyoba khona iBandla LaseBartica.”

Ukwehlisa Nokwenyusa Imifula Ngama-Kingdom Proclaimer

Eminyakeni yokuqala, abazalwane babesebenzisa noma iziphi izikebhe ezazikhona ukuze baye ezindaweni ezingasemifuleni. Kamuva, bazitholela ezabo izikebhe, ezazibizwa nge-Kingdom Proclaimer I, i-Kingdom Proclaimer II, njalonjalo, kuze kufike kuyi-Kingdom Proclaimer V. (Ezimbili zokuqala azisasebenzi manje.)

UFrederick McAlman uyalandisa: “Lapho sigwedla sehlisa umfula, sasihamba sishumayela ngasempumalanga yoMfula iPomeroon size sifike eHackney, eqhele ngamakhilomitha angu-11 esizalweni somfula. Lapho, sasifika silale kamnandi emzini kaDade DeCambra, owayengumbelethisi kuleyo ndawo ngaleso sikhathi. Ngakusasa ekuseni ngovivi, sasiqhubekela esizalweni somfula ngaphambi kokuwelela ngasentshonalanga yomfula. Sasibe sesigwedla futhi amakhilomitha angu-34 sibuyele emuva eCharity.” Abazalwane bagwedla izikebhe kulo mfula iminyaka emihlanu ngaphambi kokuthola isikebhe esinenjini encane eyisekeni.

Ukuhamba ngesikebhe emanzini kwakungavamile ukuba yingozi, kodwa abazalwane kwakudingeka baqaphe ngoba kwakuba khona nezinye izikebhe. Njengoba i-Kingdom Proclaimer I ne-II, zazigwedlwa, zazingenalo ijubane. UFrederick uthi: “Lapho ngisendleleni ngigoduka ngivela koshumayela ngaseMfuleni iPomeroon ngomunye uMgqibelo ntambama, ngashayiswa isikebhe esikhulu sezimpahla esasintininiza. Ukaputeni namanye amatilosi babenganakile ngoba babebuhlabile utshwala. Ngashayeka ngawela emfuleni, ngangena ngaphansi kwesikebhe sabo. Ngacwila, ngigwiliza ebumnyameni, ngilokhu ngingqubuzeka ngekhanda ngaphansi kwesikebhe sabo eduze nje kukaphephela waso onamandla. Ibona utaku engangikulo, enye insizwa eyayikuleso sikebhe yagxumela emanzini yangitakula. Kwaphela amasonto amaningana ngilokhu ngisezinhlungwini ngenxa yokulimala, kodwa ngangijabula ngokuthi ngangisindile!”

Lowo mshophi awumdikibalisanga uFrederick. Uyachaza: “Ngangizimisele nokuqhubeka ngenxa yesithakazelo abantu abahlala ngakulowo mfula ababenaso eBhayibhelini. KwakuneSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla esasithembele kimina eSirikie, engamakhilomitha angu-11 ukusuka eCharity.”

Isonto Sinombonisi Wesifunda

Ukukhonza njengombonisi ojikelezayo emaphandleni aseGuyana kuyawavivinya amandla endoda. Ngaphandle kokuhamba emifuleni, emigwaqweni ewubhuqu nasemahlathini, ababonisi abajikelezayo nomkabo ngezinye izikhathi kudingeka babekezelele omiyane nezinye izinambuzane, izilwane ezinjengamabhubesi, izimvula ezinkulu, kuthi kwezinye izindawo kube izigebengu. Babuye babhekane nengozi yokuthola umalaleveva, i-typhoid fever, noma ezinye izifo zasezindaweni ezishisayo.

Omunye umbonisi ojikelezayo uchaza uhambo lokuya kwabanye abamemezeli abangabodwa ngaseMfuleni iDemerara. Uyabhala: “Ngemva kokuhambela iBandla LaseMackenzie, ngoMsombuluko sahamba ngesikejana esincane esinenjini sayovakashela umzalwane edolobhaneni laseYaruni, khona eDemerara, eliqhelelene neMackenzie ngamakhilomitha angu-40. Lapho sifika khona, sashumayela ngapha nangapha komfula sibe sehlika nawo ngesikebhe sibheke ngaseMackenzie.

“Abantu babengeve besikhonzile, besipha izithelo, baze basimemele ngisho nasekudleni sidle nabo. NgoLwesihlanu, sagwedla sathi ukuya maphakathi nomfula ukuze sigibele umkhumbi. ESoesdyke sashintshela esikebheni esigwedlwayo sabe sesiya osebeni lomfula. Omunye umzalwane wasihlangabeza, wasiwelisa iDemerara, saya emzini wakhe oseGeorgia. Ngabo lobo busuku, saba nomhlangano nomkhaya wakhe.

“Ngosuku olulandelayo, sonke sawela iDemerara saya eSoesdyke, sasebenza indawo yakhona kanye nenye enabantu abaningi engaseSikhumulweni Sezindiza SaseTimehri. Saya nasemagqumeni esihlabathi, lapho abantu babelayisha khona amaloli ngesihlabathi esasiyiswa eGeorgetown. NgoMgqibelo kusihlwa, saba nomunye umhlangano nalo mkhaya eGeorgia. Ngakusasa, sonke saphinda sawela umfula futhi saya eSoesdyke. Ekuseni sashumayela, ntambama saba nenkulumo yeningi kuvelanda waseposini. Labe seliyaphela-ke isonto.” Umsebenzi onzima walabo babonisi besifunda nomkabo abazinikelayo awubanga yize ngoba manje iSoesdyke inebandla elithuthukayo. Abazalwane khona baneHholo LoMbuso elaqedwa ngo-1997.

Ababonisi besifunda nabo babevelelwa imishophi. Behamba ngesithuthuthu, uJerry noDelma Murray bafika komunye umsele owawunebhuloho elakhiwe ngamapulangwe ambalwa ahlanganisiwe. UDelma walinda ngenkathi uJerry ewela lelo bhuloho ngesithuthuthu. Kodwa kwathi esawela kwathi pheze, yena, isithuthuthu nesikhwama baya bayophonseka emanzini awudaka. UDelma wamemeza, abantu bendawo baphuthuma bazosiza. Ngemva nje kwalokho, ukukhathazeka kwaphenduka ukuhleka lapho, njengoba omunye umzalwane abhala, “lo mlungu egxadazela ephumela osebeni lomfula embozwe utshani basemanzini nezicathulo zakhe zigcwele udaka.”

AmaNdiya AseMelika Amukela Izindaba Ezinhle

Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1970, ngenkathi eshumayela emakethe eCharity, uFrederick McAlman wahambisa INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama! kowesifazane oyiNdiya laseMelika, ogama lakhe nguMonica Fitzallen. (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 176.) UMonica, owayehlala endaweni yamaNdiya aseMelika, wagoduka nabo lab’ omagazini. Lapho ehlaselwe ukugula, wabafunda, washo walibona iqiniso. Ngokushesha waba ummemezeli wezindaba ezinhle—ukuphela kwakhe kuleyo ndawo—futhi wabhapathizwa ngo-1974.

UMonica uthi: “Ngashumayela ngentshiseko endlini ngendlu, ngijabulela ukuxoxela abantu bangakithi ngolwazi engangisanda kuluthola. Nokho, ukuze ngikwazi ukufika emizini yabo kwakudingeka ngigwedle isikebhe emifuleni nasemihosheni. Njengoba abathakazelayo babeya banda, ngaqala ukuba nemihlangano nabo, sifunda bese sixoxa ngezihloko ezisencwadini yokutadisha iBhayibheli ethi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade.”

Ingabe umsebenzi onzima kaMonica waba nezithelo? Yebo, ngoba manje ujabulela ukuba kanye nabanye abamemezeli abangu-13, kuhlanganise nomyeni wakhe, indodana yakhe nomkayo, nomzukulu wakhe. Kuze kube muva nje, leli qembu elincane belilokhu lihamba ngesikebhe amahora angu-12 liya eCharity, ebandleni eliseduze. Kodwa manje imihlangano seyiba sendaweni yakubo, kanti inani lababa khona liliphinda kathathu inani labamemezeli!

Ngesikhathi esifanayo, ibandla laseCharity nalo liye lakhula. Manje linabamemezeli abangu-50, abaningi babo bahamba emfuleni iPomeroon lapho beya emihlanganweni. Isilinganiso sababa khona singaphezu kuka-60, kanti eSikhumbuzweni sango-2004 kwakunabangu-301. IBandla LaseCharity nalo lineHholo LoMbuso elisha.

Ukwanda Okumangalisayo EBaramita

Enye indawo eGuyana lapho abantu abaningi bomdabu beye basabela khona esigijimini soMbuso kuseBaramita. Isenyakatho-ntshonalanga yezwe futhi ihlala amaNdiya angamaCarib. AmaCarib ayengabanye babantu bokuqala abahlala kule ndawo yaseCaribbean, ebizwa ngengama lawo. Ulimi lwabo nalo lubizwa ngesiCarib.

URuby Smith, ongumCarib, waba nesithakazelo eqinisweni ngo-1975 lapho ethola ipheshana kugogo wakhe. (Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 181.) URuby wayeneminyaka engu-16 ubudala ngaleso sikhathi. Wathuthuka ngokomoya, wabhapathizwa ngo-1978 eMhlanganweni ‘Wokholo Olunqobayo.’ Ngemva kwalokho, umkhaya wakubo wathuthela eGeorgetown ngenxa yebhizinisi. Wafika lapho washada no-Eustace Smith. U-Eustace wayengasazi isiCarib, kodwa yena noRuby babekufuna kabi ukuthuthela eBaramita ukuze bayohlanganyela isigijimi soMbuso nezihlobo zikaRuby nabanye. URuby uthi: “UJehova wakubona okwakusezinhliziyweni zethu wabe eseyiphendula imithandazo yethu ngoba ngo-1992 saya eBaramita.”

URuby uyaqhubeka: “Ekufikeni kwethu khona, ngavele ngaqala ukushumayela kubantu. Saba nemihlangano ngaphansi kwendlwana yethu encane, eyayiphakeme ngamamitha cishe angu-1,5. Kungakabiphi, isixuku sanda kakhulu sangabe sisenela kuleyo ndawo, ngakho saboleka amatende. Njengoba indaba yemihlangano yayisakazeka, amanani ababeba khona akhula agcina eseko-300! Ngenxa yokuthi ngangisikhipha ngamakhala isiCarib, ngabelwa ukutolika izigaba ze-Nqabayokulinda. Babezwa kanjani bonke? Sasisebenzisa umbhobho oshibhile okwazi ukuxhumana nomsakazo we-FM, izilaleli eziningi zona zaziza nemisakazo yazo ezazimane ziyifake esiteshini esifanele.

“Ngaleso sikhathi, mina no-Eustace saba nomuzwa wokuthi leli qembu lilidinga ngempela iHholo LoMbuso. Ngakho ngemva kokubala izindleko nokubonisana nabanye ngalo msebenzi, sabe sesiqala ukwakha. UCecil Baird, umfowethu, wanikela ngeziningi zezinto zokwakha, abanye basiza ngokusebenza. Umsebenzi waqala ngo-June 1992, waphela ngasekuqaleni konyaka owalandela, ngaphambi nje kweSikhumbuzo. Sakhexa lapho sibona kunabangu-800 enkulumweni, eyabekwa uGordon Daniels, umbonisi ojikelezayo.

“Iqembu laseBaramita laba yibandla ngo-April 1, 1996, kwathi ngo-May 25 kwanikezelwa iHholo LoMbuso. Kusukela lapho, seliye lakhuliswa futhi manje selihlalisa kahle abantu abangaphezu kuka-500, okwenza ukuba abazalwane balisebenzisele nemihlangano yesifunda nekhethekile yosuku olulodwa. Yebo, lokho okwaqala kuyiqenjana nje elincane namuhla kuyibandla labamemezeli abacela ku-100 nesilinganiso esingu-300 sababa khona eMhlanganweni Weningi. Kanti-ke bafinyelela ku-1 416 abaye baba khona eSikhumbuzweni!”

Indumezulu Yomshado!

Esifundeni saseBaramita, imibhangqwana eminingi eyayikade ikipitile yashada ngokomthetho ukuze izivumelanise nezindinganiso zeBhayibheli. Kodwa eminye yaba nobunzima bokuthola amaphepha adingekayo, njengezitifiketi zokuzalwa. Yize kunjalo, ngemva komzamo omkhulu nangosizo lwabazalwane ekutholeni izinsuku zokuzalwa neminye imininingwane, le mibhangqwana yakwazi ukushada.

Ngelinye ilanga, kwashadiswa imibhangqwana engu-79 emcimbini owodwa. U-Adin Sills, oyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha, wabeka inkulumo yomshado. Ngemva kwezinsuku ezintathu, abantu abangu-41, iningi kuyilabo ababesanda kushada, baveza isifiso sabo sokuba abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe.

Baningi kakhulu eBaramita abaye babonisa isithakazelo eZwini likaNkulunkulu kangangokuthi umphakathi uwonke uye wabona intuthuko emangalisayo. Ngesikhathi kunikezelwa iHholo LoMbuso, omunye wabadala wathi: “IBaramita manje iyindawo ezolile nenokuthula. Lokhu kubangelwa ukuthi kuyinto evamile ukuba amaphesenti angalé kuka-90 abe khona njalo emihlanganweni.”

Ngo-1995 isifunda saseBaramita sahlukunyezwa isomiso esibi kabi. Abantu bakaJehova babhekana kanjani naleso simo? Ithishelakazi uGillian Persaud lalifundisa eBaramita ngaleso sikhathi. Lapho lizwa umsindo wendiza encane ihlala esikhumulweni sezindiza esincane esiseduze, lagijima lashiya isithunzi liya komisa umshayeli wendiza engakasuki. Lamncenga ukuba aliyise eGeorgetown, lapho laqonda khona ngqo ehhovisi legatsha liyobika ngosizi lwabazalwane.

UJames Thompson, owayeyilungu leKomiti Yegatsha, uyalandisa: “INdikimba Ebusayo yasinika imvume yokuthumela ngendiza ukudla nezinye izinto eBaramita. Sakwazi futhi nokuhlelela abamemezeli abangu-36 ukuba bayiswe eGeorgetown ngendiza ukuze bakwazi ukuya emhlanganweni wesigodi. Abaningi babengakaze balubhade emhlanganweni wesigodi.”

ISikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo

Kusukela iSikole Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo (MTS) saqala ngo-1987, maningi amazwe aye azuza emsebenzini wabadala nezinceku ezikhonzayo ezingashadile eziye zaya kulesi sikole. IGuyana nayo ayisalanga ngaphandle. Ngemva kokuya esikoleni, esiqhutshelwa eduze kwaseTrinidad, abazalwane bakhona abaningi baye bakwazi ukuwusekela kakhudlwana umsebenzi woMbuso eGuyana. Abanye njengamanje bangamaphayona avamile, akhethekile, nabadala bebandla. Labo ababuyela emabandleni akubo benza okukhulu ekunakekeleni izimvu zikaJehova.

Iningana lasebaphothula e-MTS liye lakwazi ukwamukela imithwalo yemfanelo eyengeziwe. Ngokwesibonelo, uFloyd noLawani Daniels, izelamani, babelwa njengamaphayona akhethekile emabandleni ayenesidingo esiphuthumayo sabadala. UDavid Persaud wathola ilungelo lokukhonza njengombonisi wesifunda. Omunye ayekanye naye esikoleni, u-Edsel Hazel, wamiswa njengelungu leKomiti Yegatsha YaseGuyana. Ngokuphathelene nabanye abaye kulesi sikole, omunye umbonisi wesifunda wathi: “Ngiye ngababona bonke ngabanye bekhula ngokomoya, ikakhulu ngemva kokuba beye eSikoleni Sokuqeqeshela Inkonzo.”

Ukukhonza Lapho Indingeko Inkulu Khona

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1970, oGwini Lwe-Atlantic olusentshonalanga yoMfula i-Essequibo, kwakunezakhamuzi ezithi azibe ngu-30 000 nabamemezeli abangu-30 nje kuphela. Ngakho ngezinye izikhathi igatsha lalabela amaphayona akhethekile ukuba asebenze izingxenye zaleyo nsimu isikhathi esingangenyanga. Umzalwane owayenakekela elinye iqembu elaliya koshumayela wathi: “Abazalwane bakwazi ukuyiqeda insimu futhi bahambisa izincwadi ezingu-1 835, benza izimpindelo eziningi, baqala nezifundo zeBhayibheli eziningana.”

Omunye umzalwane wabika: “Sagwedla isikebhe sethu esincane amahora amabili, okwakuba amakhilomitha angu-27. Ngezinye izikhathi, leso sikebhe kwakudingeka sisidonse noma sisidudule odakeni olufika emadolweni, kodwa imizamo yethu yayivuzwa ngoba abaninikhaya babesamukela. Omunye, ofundisa umculo, wayekade efundisa umculo ngeculo lethu. ‘Ngiyithanda kakhulu indlela izingoma ezihlelwe ngayo,’ esho. Wabe esesidlalela izingoma ezimbili, wathatha nezincwadi eziyisithupha.”

Abanye abazalwane nodade babezenza bakutholakalele ukuyosiza ezindaweni ezinendingeko enkulu. Thatha nje ngokwesibonelo uSherlock noJuliet Pahalan. USherlock uyabhala: “Ngo-1970, mina noJuliet sacelwa ukuba siyosiza iBandla Lase-Eccles, elingamakhilomitha angu-13 ukuya ngaseningizimu yeGeorgetown, eMfuleni iDemerara. Kwakunezinkinga kuleli bandla, futhi kwadingeka abathile basuswe ekuhlanganyeleni. Lokhu kwalishiya linabamemezeli abakhuthele cishe abangu-12 nezingane zabo ezingabhapathiziwe. Isikhathi esithile ngangiwukuphela komdala. Kanti futhi lelo bandla lalinakekela neqembu elincane laseMocha, indawo engayodwa. NgeMisombuluko kusihlwa ngangiqhuba iSifundo Sencwadi Sebandla eMocha bese ngiqhuba esinye e-Eccles.

“Kwakudingeka ngiqhube neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Ngenxa yokuthi omagazini babembalwa kakhulu bengaseneli, sasiqale sifunde isigaba ngasinye bese kuba umbuzo, okwakuhlukile endleleni eyayijwayelekile ngaleso sikhathi. Sasiya namakhandlela emihlanganweni ngenxa yokuthi ugesi wawuphela njalo; ngezikhathi zemvula, sasibekezelela amaqulo omiyane. Kulezo zinsuku, iningi labazalwane laliya ngezinyawo noma ngamabhayisikili emihlanganweni nasensimini. Abamemezeli baseMocha babeza ngendlela efanayo e-Eccles. Ngemva kwemihlangano, iveni yami yayigcwala ithi phama abamemezeli, bese ngibayisa emakhaya eMocha.”

Kwakuwufanele lokho wonke lowo mzamo? Ebheka emuva kuleso sikhathi, uMfoweth’ uPahalan uyabhala: “Ngesikhathi sise-Eccles, mina nomkami safundela abantu abaningi, abaningi babo, kanye nemikhaya yabo, baseseqinisweni namanje. Kanti amanye amadoda manje akhonza njengabadala ebandleni. Ayikho into engaqhathaniswa nezibusiso ezinjalo!”

Ukukhonza “Epharadesi Lamaphayona”!

Eminyakeni embalwa edlule, abazalwane nodade abalinganiselwa ku-50—iningi labo kungamaphayona—abavela eBrithani, eCanada, eFrance, e-Ireland nase-United States, baye baya eZweni Lamanzi bayonezela amazwi abo kulesi simemo: “Woza! . . . Noma ubani othandayo makathathe amanzi okuphila ngesihle.” (IsAm. 22:17) Abanye baye bakwazi ukuhlala izinyanga ezimbalwa; abanye iminyaka. Lapho izimali ziphela, abaningi babuyela emazweni akubo, basebenze isikhashana, bese beyabuya futhi. Iningi labo likubheka njengesibusiso ukukhonza kwabo eGuyana. Baye bajabulela ikakhulu ukubonisana ngezinto ezingokomoya nabantu ngokuvamile abalihlonipha kakhulu iBhayibheli. Ngisho nabaningi abangazibizi ngamaKristu bayakujabulela ukuxoxa noFakazi BakaJehova. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ngezinye izikhathi abaninikhaya bapha abazalwane ukudla. “Ngakho akulona ihaba ukubiza iGuyana ngokuthi ipharadesi lamaphayona,” kusho uRicardo Hinds, manje ongumqondisi weKomiti Yegatsha.

U-Arlene Hazel, manje okhonza egatsheni nomyeni wakhe, u-Edsel, ukhumbula okunye kokuhlangenwe nakho kwabo kwasemaphandleni aseGuyana: “Ngo-1997, ngemva kokuthintana negatsha, sathola isabelo sokuyokhonza eLethem, idolobha eliphakathi impela ngasemngceleni weBrazil. Lapho, sakhonza noRobert noJoanna Welch nabo abangabaseCanada nodade waseMelika, uSarah Dionne, owayefike eLethem ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ngaphambidlana. Omunye umzalwane obhapathiziwe—uRichard Achee, ongudokotela wezilwane—wayehlala kuleyo ndawo ngaleso sikhathi. Igatsha lasinika amagama abantu abangaba ngu-20 ababeke bafundelwa ngaphambili, kodwa sathola ukuthi iningi labo lalingenaso ngempela isithakazelo. Ababili nokho babefuna ukuba abamemezeli abangabhapathiziwe.

“Umhlangano wethu wokuqala waba ngaphansi kwesihlahla sikamango, kwaba khona abangu-12, kuhlanganise nathi maphayona angu-6. Ezinyangeni ezimbalwa kamuva, abangu-60 beza eSikhumbuzweni sethu sokuqala. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, iqembu lethu lamaphayona lehla saba bathathu. Kodwa sasizama ukunakekela izifundo zeBhayibheli ezingu-40! Lapho umbonisi wesifunda efika, wasicebisa ukuba siyeke ukufundela noma ubani ongezi emihlanganweni. Lokhu kwabonakala kukuhle njengoba izifundo esazigcina zaqhubeka zithuthuka kahle.”

Yebo, eminyakeni emine kamuva, iLethem yaba ibandla elakhiwa abamemezeli abangu-14. Amanani ababa khona emihlanganweni ekhethekile yosuku olulodwa eLethem aye akhula afika ekhulwini. Ubufakazi obucace kanjalo bokubusisa kukaJehova imizamo yezinceku zakhe bukugqiba bonke ubunzima ezingase zibukhuthazelele.

Amahholo Aqashwayo “Nezindlu Ezingaphansi”

Kusukela ekuqaleni komsebenzi eGuyana, bekulokhu kuyinselele ukuthola izindawo ezifanele zokukhulekela. Emuva ngo-1913, idlanzana labazalwane eGeorgetown laqasha ikamelo eSomerset House, abalisebenzisa iminyaka engu-45. Ngo-1970, mabili kuphela amabandla ayenamaHholo OMbuso—iBandla LaseCharlestown eliseGeorgetown nelasePalmyra eliseBerbice. Noma kunjalo, eminyakeni emithathu ngaphambili, iGuyana yeqela ngale kwabamemezeli abayinkulungwane! Ngakho amabandla amaningi ayehlanganyela ezindaweni eziqashiwe, ezikhathini eziningi ezazingafaneleki neze.

Ngasekupheleni kwawo-1950, iBandla LaseWismar, ngokwesibonelo, elingaseMfuleni iDemerara, lakhula kangangokuthi abazalwane kwadingeka bathole ihholo elifanelekayo. Bavunyelwa ukuba basebenzise indawo ebizwa ngokuthi i-Islander Hall. Babehlangana phakathi nesonto babe neSikole Senkonzo Esingokwasezulwini noMhlangano Wenkonzo, kuthi ngeSonto kusihlwa babe noMhlangano Weningi neSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. Kodwa kwakuwumzukuzuku ukwenza leyo ndawo ilungele imihlangano. Okokuqala, abazalwane babewela iDemerara besuka eMackenzie beya eWismar ngesikebhe esincane. Omunye umzalwane wayephatha ibhokisi lomagazini, omunye aphathe elezincwadi, owesithathu aphathe amafomu ahlukahlukene kanye namabhokisi omnikelo. Futhi konke lokhu kwakumelwe kube sekumi ngomumo ngaphambi kwemihlangano. Ekupheleni kwemihlangano, kwakumelwe kuqoqwe konke futhi kubuyiselwe emuva.

Imihlangano yayiqhutshelwa nasezindaweni ezibizwa ngokuthi izindlu ezingaphansi—isikhala esiba ngaphansi kwendlu. Ngenxa yezikhukhula, izindlu zaseGuyana ngokuvamile zakhelwa phezulu phezu kwezingodo noma kwezigxobo zikakhonkolo. Le ndlela yokwakha yenza kube nesikhala esingasetshenziselwa okuthile, njengemihlangano yebandla. Kodwa-ke eGuyana, abantu abaningi babambelele embonweni wokuthi uma inkolo ingakwazi ukuthola indawo efanele yokuhlangana, kusho ukuthi ayinaso isibusiso sikaNkulunkulu.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, imihlangano ezindlini ezingaphansi yayiphazamiseka ngezinye izikhathi, okwakuyiqeda isithunzi. Ngelinye ilanga, inkukhu eyayijahwa yinja yandizela kuyo le ndawo okwakuhlanganyelwa kuyo yafika yahlala entombazanyeni eneminyaka eyisithupha ubudala. Yasho ngengila kwathuka wonk’ umuntu. Ngemva komhlangano, abantu bayihleka le ndaba kodwa futhi yabonisa isidingo sendawo engcono yokukhulekela. Kanti okunye, ukuqhubela imihlangano emaHholo OMbuso asezindlini ezingaphansi kwakungabaniki abathakazelayo ugqozi lokuza.

Ukwakhiwa KwamaHholo OMbuso

UFrederick McAlman uyakhumbula: “Eminyakeni engu-32 ngineBandla LaseCharity, saqasha izindlu ezingaphansi ezinhlanu. Njengoba sasiba ngaphansi kwendlu, kwakudingeka siqaphele singangqubuzeki ngamakhanda emishayweni yamapulangwe. Omunye udade owayephethe ingane yakhe, engakukalanga kahle ukuphakama komshayo, wangqubuza ingane yakhe ngekhanda. Kamuva, wabikela uyise owayengakholwa. Abazali bakhe baphetha ngokuthi ibandla kudingeka libe nendawo yalo yokukhulekela. Empeleni, unina wathi uzonikela ngesiqephu sendawo ebandleni, uyise yena wathi uzoxhasa ngokwezimali ukwakhiwa kweHholo LoMbuso. Yilokho kanye okwenzeka. Namuhla, lelo Hholo LoMbuso lokuqala, ngemva kokulungiswa izikhathi eziningana, liseseyindawo eyinhloko yokukhululeka kulo mphakathi. Libuye futhi libe iHholo Lomhlangano elincane lesifunda sakhona.”

Ezinsukwini zokuqala, ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso kwakuthatha izinyanga eziningi. Kwaba njalo ngehholo lase-Eccles. USherlock Pahalan, owayekhonza njengomdala e-Eccles ngaleso sikhathi, uyalandisa: “Imihlangano yethu yayiqhutshelwa esikoleni. Sasazi ukuthi sasiyokwanda kakhulu ukube sasineHholo LoMbuso lethu. Kodwa abamemezeli abambalwa base-Eccles babempofu. Yize kunjalo, benza izwi lesinqumo lokwakha ihholo. Ngacinga indawo efanele kuleyo nsimu, kodwa lutho ukuyithola.

“Phakathi naleso sikhathi, abazalwane baseGeorgetown basiboleka amafoloma amabili basifundisa nokwakha izitini zikasimende. Ekuqaleni, kwasithatha amahora amaningana ukwakha izitini ezingu-12 kuphela, kodwa ngokujwayela sagcina sesiyizingcweti, ikakhulukazi odade. Enye inselele yayiwukuthola usimende ngenxa yokuthi wawungatholakali ngobuningi ngaleso sikhathi. Kwakumelwe ngifake isicelo sokuthola isilinganiso esithile sawo. Ukuze ngiqiniseke ukuthi siyawuthola lowo esasiwucelile, ngangiya esibophelweni semikhumbi kusempondo zankomo, ngilinde emgqeni. Ngemva kwalokho kwakudingeka ngithole iloli eliya e-Eccles futhi elalinendawo eyanele ukuthwala usimende. UJehova wayesisiza njalo nje. Kodwa sasisadinga indawo.”

USherlock uyaqhubeka: “Ngo-1972, mina noJuliet savakashela eCanada, saya kumshana wami ongeyena uFakazi. Waveza ukuthi uneziza ezimbili e-Eccles kodwa izihlobo zakhe ezazizinakekela zazingawenzi umsebenzi wazo. Wabe esecela usizo lwami. Ngamtshela ukuthi ngingakujabulela ukusiza, nganezela nokuthi ngicingana nendawo yokwakha iHholo LoMbuso e-Eccles. Ngaphandle kokuya le nale, wamane wathi mangikhethe esinye salezo ziza.

“Sabona ubufakazi obengeziwe besandla sikaNkulunkulu ngesikhathi kwakhiwa. Nakuba nezinye izinto zokwakha eziningi ngaphandle kukasimende zazingatholakali kalula, sasebenzisa ezinye ezikhundleni sezinye, siciciyela futhi ngandlela-thile sakwazi ukuqeda umsebenzi. Ngaphezu kwalokho, babembalwa abazalwane ababenamakhono adingekayo, futhi kwakuwumsebenzi ukuhlela amavolontiya ayezosebenza esakhiweni. Iveni yami yahamba amakhulu amakhilomitha ithutha abazalwane beya noma bebuya esakhiweni. Ekugcineni, iHholo LoMbuso lethu laphela. Kwafika ngisho nelungu leNdikimba Ebusayo, uKarl Klein, lizobeka inkulumo yokulinikezela. Yeka injabulo esaba nayo!”

AmaHholo OMbuso Akhiwa Ngokushesha

Muva nje ngo-1995, amabandla angaphezu kwesigamu eGuyana abesahlanganyela ezindaweni eziqashwayo, kuhlanganise nezindlu ezingaphansi. Ngenxa yalokho, igatsha lahlela ukuba ikomiti yokwakha yezwe lonke isingathe leso sidingo. Ngo-October wangawo lowo nyaka, abazalwane bakha iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala elakhiwa ngokushesha eMahaicony, esebangeni elingamakhilomitha angaba ngu-50 empumalanga yeGeorgetown, eMfuleni iMahaicony. Lapho etshelwa ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova bazokwakha iHholo LoMbuso ngezimpelasonto ezine, omunye umakhelwane wathi: “Uma ukhuluma ngehhoko lezinkukhu, kulungile, kodwa hhayi isakhiwo sikakhonkolo—ngeke.” Akubuzwa, leyo ndoda yashesha kabi ukushintsha umbono wayo.

Ezweni lapho ubandlululo luke luthi ukudlanga khona, ukwakhiwa kwamaHholo OMbuso kuye kwabonisa bonke ukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi baluhlanga luni noma basizwe sini, oFakazi BakaJehova basebenza ndawonye ngobunye bobuKristu beqiniso. Omunye ugogo owayebukele kwakhiwa eMahaicony wababaza kumbonisi wesifunda: “Ngibone izinhlanga zabantu ezihlukahlukene eziyisithupha laphaya zisebenza ndawonye!”

Ukwakhiwa Kwegatsha

Ngo-1914, ihhovisi legatsha lokuqala laseGuyana laba semzini wakwaPhillip kwaze kwaba ngu-1946. Ngalowo nyaka, kwakunabamemezeli abangu-91. Ngo-1959, lelo nani lase likhule lafika ku-685, futhi umsebenzi waqhubeka wanda. Ngakho ngo-June 1960, abazalwane bathola indawo enezakhiwo emgwaqweni u-50 Brickdam, eGeorgetown. Ngemva kokulungiswa lapha nalaphaya, lezo zakhiwo zaba ihhovisi legatsha nekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli. Kodwa ngo-1986, nazo zaba zincane. Ngemvume yeNdikimba Ebusayo, kwakhiwa igatsha elisha kuso leso siza. Izisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe zisizwa abazalwane bendawo zaqeda lo msebenzi ngo-1987.

Njengamadodakazi kaShalumi, asiza uyise ukwakha kabusha ingxenye yezindonga zeJerusalema, odade baba usizo olukhulu kulesi sakhiwo. (Neh. 3:12) Ngokwesibonelo, odade abangu-120, abahlukaniswa baba amaqembu angaba ngu-10, bakha izitini zikasimende ezingu-12 000 ezazidingeka esakhiweni. Besebenzisa amafoloma angu-16, lowo msebenzi bawuqeda ngezinsuku ezingu-55. Kwakungewona umsebenzi olula lowo! Usimende kwakufanele uxovwe ngendlela efanele—ube manzi ngokwanele ukuze uqine kahle kodwa futhi ungabi manzi kangangokuthi izitini zibhidlike lapho zikhishwa efolomeni.

Abazalwane bendawo babegada ebusuku, ngokuvamile befika esakhiweni bevela emisebenzini yabo yokuziphilisa. Abanye babesebenza nezisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe, ezabafundisa amakhono abalulekile. Omunye walabo bazalwane abasebasha, uHarrinarine (u-Indaal) Persaud, uyakhumbula: “Umsebenzi wami kwakuwukufaka izinto zokuhlobisa emachosheni amafasitela—into engangingakaze ngiyenze ngaphambili. Ngawenza ngaze ngaba ingcweti. Ngemva kokuba umzalwane oqondisayo esewuhlolile, ngokusobala ewujabulela umzamo wami, wathi, “Manje usuhlalelwe ukwenza igatsha lonke.” Namuhla, lo mzalwane osemusha ufundisa abanye amakhono akhe lapho kwakhiwa amaHholo OMbuso.

Njengoba abazalwane kwakudingeka ba-ode izinto zokwakha kwamanye amazwe, kwakudingeka usizo lwezikhulu zikahulumeni. Ngenxa yalokho, izikhulu eziningi zeza esakhiweni, kuhlanganise noMongameli uForbes L. Burnham nethimba lakhe. Bonke bamangazwa ubungcweti bomsebenzi, ngisho nombazi wendawo wamangala. “Awuve umuhle umsebenzi owenziwa esakhiweni senu,” kusho umbazi. Ngo-January 14, 1988, uDon Adams waseBrooklyn, ekhonza njengombonisi ohambela amagatsha, wabeka inkulumo yokunikezela.

Ngo-February 12, 2001, kwambiwa futhi ukuze kwakhiwe—kodwa manje kwesinye isiza. Izisebenzi zakwamanye amazwe zaphinde zasiza abazalwane bakhona ababesebenza esakhiweni. Igatsha elisha lanikezelwa ngoMgqibelo, ngo-February 15, 2003. URichard Kelsey wasegatsheni laseJalimane wabekela izilaleli ezingu-332 inkulumo yokunikezela.

Izithunywa zevangeli eziningi zokuqala zabuyela eGuyana ziyolalela isimiso, ezinye zaziqala ukuya ngemva kwamashumi eminyaka! Kwabe sekuthi ngeSonto, abangu-4 752 bevela emazweni angu-12—inani elingale kwabamemezeli baseGuyana bephindwe kabili—bathamela umhlangano okhethekile.

Imihlangano Yesifunda Ifuna Ukuhlakanipha

Abazalwane bavame ukuqasha izindawo ngemihlangano yesifunda nekhethekile yosuku olulodwa. Emaphandleni, bangaze bayakhe nokuyakha indawo yokuhlangana. UThomas Markevich, owakhonza eGuyana kusukela ngo-1952 kuya ku-1956, uthi: “Umhlangano wethu wawusebangeni elingamakhilomitha angu-60 enhla noMfula iDemerara ukusuka eGeorgetown. OFakazi cishe abangamakhulu amabili basedolobheni babefuna ukuya bayosekela abazalwane bakuleyo ndawo. Ngakho sanquma ukwakha iHholo Lomhlangano lesikhashana sisebenzisa izinto zokwakha zakhona—izinhlangothi nezihlalo kwakhiwa ngoqalo, kwafulelwa ngamaqabunga esihlahla sikabhanana.

“Saqoqa izinto zokwakha, sazilayisha enqoleni encane ehamba kujantshi, sabe sesiyidudula sehla nayo. Kodwa ngeshwa yasiphunyuka ejikeni, yaketuka, wonke umthwalo wachithekela emfuleni. Lo mshophi wasisiza-ke ngoba umthwalo wantanta waze wayofika khona kanye esakhiweni! Lapho umhlangano uqala, abazalwane ababevakashile kwabajabulisa ukuba namakhulu amaningana abantu bendawo emhlanganweni wezinsuku ezintathu.”

UThomas uyanezela: “Ngemva komhlangano, sonke sasebenza enye yensimu engabelwe eseduze. Kwenye indawo, saba nenkulumo yeningi, kwafika bonke abantu bakhona—kuhlanganise nenkawu efuyiwe. Yalalela okwesikhashana yabe isinquma ukuthi ifuna ukubona izinto ikwenye indawo. Yagxuma kabili kathathu yangqashela ehlombe lami. Yathi ukuqalaqalaza yabe isingqashela kumniniyo yahlala kuye yaze yaphela inkulumo, okwangiphumuza ngempela!”

Imihlangano Yesigodi

Ekuqaleni kwekhulu elidlule, imihlangano emikhulu yayivame ukuba ngasikhathi sinye nokuhambela kwabameleli abakhethekile basendlunkulu yomhlaba wonke, njengoMfoweth’ uCoward noYoung. Ngo-1954, uNathan Knorr noMilton Henschel bafika eGuyana beze eMhlanganweni Womphakathi Wezwe Elisha, owawuhanjelwe abangu-2 737.

Emakhulwini eminyaka kamuva, ngo-1999, izihambeli zomhlangano ezingaphezu kuka-7 100 zaya emihlanganweni yesigodi emikhulu emibili eGuyana. Omunye wawuseGeorgetown, omunye useBerbice. Emhlanganweni owawuseGeorgetown kwadingeka kwenziwe izinguquko ezinkulu ngomzuzu wokugcina, okwabavivinya ngempela abazalwane. “Kwafika umdlali odumile wamafilimu nadansa nabo evela e-India, futhi iNational Park Commission yaba nomuzwa wokuthi ngeke isakwazi ukuhlehlisa lowo mbukiso yize kuyithina esasisifake kuqala isicelo,” kubhala igatsha.

“Safuna enye indawo ngaso leso sikhathi—izinkundla zekhilikithi—futhi ngokushesha sabikela amabandla. Kwase kusele izinsuku ezingu-8 nje kube umhlangano! Kodwa izinkinga aziphelelanga lapho. ECaribbean, ikhilikithi le iyinto enkulu kabi, futhi izinkundla zayo zibhekwa njengokungathi zingcwele. Manje indaba yokuthi sasizohamba otshanini bakhona kwakuyinto abaphathi ababengayingeni nakuyingena. Kodwa yayizodlalwa kanjani idrama? Isiteji sona sasizosibekaphi?

“Yize kunjalo, saqhubeka, sithemba ukuthi uJehova uzosivulela indlela. Yilokho kanje akwenza! Sanikwa imvume yokusebenzisa indawo enotshani, uma nje isiteji nendlela eya kuso sizokwakha kuthi ukuphakama. Ukuze siwuqede lowo msebenzi, sonke sazikhandla ubusuku bonke. Ngisho nemvula yasenzela phansi, yavele yana cishe ubusuku bonke. Naphezu kwazo zonke lezi zinselele, kwala kancane ukuba isimiso siqale ngesikhathi esasihleliwe.

“Umhlangano waqhubeka kahle, nezulu laphenya kwaze kwaba usuku lokugcina, ngeSonto. Savuswa imvula. Ngokushesha nje izinkundla zekhilikithi zase zimbozwe amanzi, namanzi lawo anyuka kwaze kwasala kancane ukuba athinte isiteji nendlela eya kuso. Imvula yakhawuka ngaphambi nje kokuqala kwesimiso. Ngenhlanhla, izintambo zikagesi zazingabekwanga otshanini kunalokho zaziboshelwe ngaphansi kwamapulangwe. Ngakho ukwakha isiteji nendlela eya kuso kuphakame kwajika kwaba isibusiso!”

Lapho idrama iqala, bonke abangu-6 088 ababekhona bayijabulela ilanga libalele. Emasontweni amabili kamuva, abangu-1 038 babesemhlanganweni wesibili, owawuseBerbice. Ingqikithi yababekhona abangu-7 126 yayiyinani elikhulu kunawo wonke eGuyana kuze kube yileso sikhathi. Muva nje, amanani ababa khona athi awafike ku-10 000.

Amathemba Aqhakazile Ekusasa

Esiprofethweni sakhe, uHezekeli wabona ithempeli likaJehova elivuselelwe futhi lakhazinyuliswa. Kwakunomfula wamanzi ogeleza usuka kulo, uya uvuleka futhi ushona njengoba uqhubeka ugeleza waze waba ‘yisifufula esiphindwe kabili,’ uletha ukuphila ngisho nasoLwandle Olufile olunosawoti nolungenakuphila.—Hez. 47:1-12.

Ngokuthuthuka kokukhulekela okumsulwa kusukela ngo-1919, abantu bakaNkulunkulu baye basibona leso siprofetho sigcwaliseka. Namuhla, umfula weqiniso wamanzi angokomoya—amaBhayibheli, izinsiza-kufunda zeBhayibheli, imihlangano yebandla, eyesifunda neyesigodi—uqeda ukoma okungokomoya kwezigidi embulungeni yonke.

OFakazi BakaJehova eGuyana bakubheka njengelungelo ukuhlanganyela ekugcwalisekeni kwaleso siprofetho. Ngaphezu kwalokho, bazoqhubeka besebenzisa imifula ngendlela engokoqobo ukuze bayise ukudla okungokomoya okunokuphila kubo bonke ‘abathambekele ngokufanele ekuphileni okuphakade,’ kungakhathaliseki ukuthi bahlala kuphi kuleli Zwe Lamanzi.—IzE. 13:48.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 140]

Ake Sithi Qaphu Qaphu NgeGuyana

Izwe: Isifunda esingasogwini ngokuyinhloko sakhiwe isihlabathi esishiywe imifula futhi ingxenye enkulu yaso ayiphakeme kunolwandle ngakho sivikelwa udonga oluvimba amanzi olwandle olungamakhilomitha angu-230 ubude. Amahlathi amboza amaphesenti angu-80 ezwe, kuhlanganise nezingxenye eziphakeme ezisenkabeni yezwe, lapho kusuka khona imifula eminingi yaseGuyana.

Abantu: Cishe ingxenye yabo inesizinda samaNdiya aseMpumalanga, amaphesenti angaphezu kuka-40 awozalo lwabamnyama base-Afrika noma abaxubile, bese kuthi amaphesenti angaba ngu-5 kube amaNdiya aseMelika. Amaphesenti angaba ngu-40 athi angamaKristu; angu-34 athi angamaHindu; angu-9 athi angamaSulumane.

Ulimi: IsiNgisi ulimi olusemthethweni, kodwa futhi ulimi oluxubile lukhulunywa kulo lonke izwe.

Indlela yokuziphilisa: Ezolimo ziqasha amaphesenti angaba ngu-30 ezisebenzi. Ezinye izimboni zihlanganisa ezokudoba, ezamahlathi nezimayini.

Ukudla: Izivuno eziyinhloko zihlanganisa ilayisi, izinhlamvu zikakhokho, izithelo ezisawolintshi, ukhukhunathi, ikhofi, ummbila, umdumbula, umoba kanye nezinye izithelo nemifino emila endaweni eshisayo nenomswakama. Izilwane ezifuyelwa inyama zihlanganisa izinkomo, izingulube, izinkukhu kanye nezimvu. Ukudla kwasolwandle okuvamile inhlanzi kanye nezimfanzi.

Isimo sezulu: IGuyana iyashisa futhi isimo sezulu sithi asifane unyaka wonke. Isifunda esingasogwini sithola amasentimitha angu-150 kuya kwangu-200 emvula ngonyaka. Ngenxa yemimoya evunguza ngokuqhubekayo eqhamuka e-Atlantic Ocean, nakuba iGuyana iseduze nenkabazwe, ayishisi kakhulu.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 143-145]

Akekho Owakwazi ‘Ukumbopha’ Umlomo

UMalcolm Hall

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1890

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1915

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Njengowomdabu wasesiqhingini saseLeguan, waba owokuqala ukushumayela izindaba ezinhle kuleyo ndawo futhi wanakekela iqembu elalisafufusa lapho.

Njengoba ilandiswa umzukulu womfowabo, uYvonne Hall.

Isikhulu sokhetho sake sathi kumkhulu: “Ingabe kuyiqiniso ukuthi awuvoti? Uma kunjalo, sizokubopha futhi sithathe neBhayibheli lakho.” Esibheka emehlweni, umkhulu waphendula: “Kodwa nizokwenzenjani ngomlomo wami? Ningawubopha yini umlomo wami ukuba ungalikhulumi iqiniso abaholi benkolo abaye banifihlela lona isikhathi eside kangaka?” Ukuphela kwento lesi sikhulu esakwazi ukuyisho ukuthi: “Ngizokuthola.”

Njengoba abhapathizwa ngo-1915, umkhulu wayengomunye wabamemezeli boMbuso bokuqala eGuyana. “Wayelilwela ngempela iqiniso,” kusho omunye umzalwane. Umkhulu wathola iqiniso loMbuso ngenkathi esahlala futhi esebenza eGeorgetown. Ngemva kokuzwa inkulumo yeningi eyodwa nje eSomerset House, walibona iqiniso. Empeleni, waya ekhaya futhi wayihlola yonke imibhalo eBhayibhelini lakhe.

Ngemva kwalokho, wabuyela ekhaya eLeguan, waqala ngokushesha ukufakaza kwabanye. Phakathi kwabokuqala ukwamukela isigijimi soMbuso kwaba odadewabo ababili kanye nabanye abashana bakhe. Bakha isiqalo seqembu elalihlangana endlini kamkhulu.

Ngalezo zinsuku zokuqala, abefundisi babenesandla esiqinile phezu kwabantu, futhi kwakuwumzukuzuku ukwenza abantu basabele ezindabeni ezinhle. Abefundisi babevame ukuthi umkhulu “uyasangana, uhlanyiswa iBhayibheli.” Nokho lokho akuzange kuyidambise intshiseko yakhe. Ngokwesibonelo, ngamaSonto ekuseni wayebeka igilamafomu lakhe phambi kwendlu bese edlala izinkulumo zeBhayibheli eziqoshiwe. Abantu babevame ukuma emgwaqweni balalele.

Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi, abanye basabela ngokwazisa. Lokhu kwakubonakala kahle ngobusuku beSikhumbuzo, lapho yonke ingxenye ephezulu yendlu kamkhulu yayigcwala abantu. Wayeba usihlalo, isikhulumi, nokuphela komuntu odlayo. Esinye isifundo sakhe seBhayibheli, uLeroy Denbow, sathatha inkonzo yobuphayona saze sakhonza isikhashana njengombonisi wesifunda.

Ngemva kokuyeka emsebenzini wakhe wokuziphilisa njengomphathi-sikhwama womkhumbi eMfuleni i-Essequibo, umkhulu wangenela inkonzo yobuphayona, esebenza isiqhingi saseLeguan nomakhelwane waso iWakenaam. Usuku lwakhe lwaluqala ngo-4:30 ekuseni, asenge izinkomo zakhe futhi anakekele nezingulube. Cishe ngabo 7:30 ekuseni wayegeza, afunde itekisi losuku nengxenye ethile yeBhayibheli, adle, bese elungiselela ukuphuma aye enkonzweni. Ngisambona efutha amathaya ebhayisikili lakhe ngaphambi kokuba aphume. Nganoma yiluphi usuku, wayevame ukuhamba cishe amakhilomitha angu-20.

Umkhulu waphetha inkambo yakhe yasemhlabeni ngo-November 2, 1985, eye wakhonza uJehova ngokwethembeka iminyaka engaba ngu-70. Phakathi naso sonke lesi sikhathi akekho noyedwa owakwazi ‘ukumbopha’ umlomo. Futhi manje, zombili iziQhingi iLeguan neWakenaam zinamabandla.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 155-158]

Izimpendulo Zemibuzo Yami Yase-buntwaneni Zashintsha Ukuphila Kwami

U-Albert Small

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1921

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1949

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Waqala ukuphayona ngo-1953. Enomkakhe, uSheila, baya eGileyadi ngo-1958 futhi babelwa emuva eGuyana.

“UNkulunkulu owakudala”—yilokhu engangijwayele ukutshelwa khona ngisewumfanyana. Ngakho lapho umama engitshela ukuthi ngangingalungile ukuzedlula zonke izingane zakhe ezine, ngazitshela ukuthi uNkulunkulu wenza izingane ezintathu ezilungile neyodwa engalungile.

Lapho ngineminyaka cishe eyishumi ubudala, ngabuza uthisha wethu kaSonto-sikole, “Ubani owenza uNkulunkulu?” Angitholanga mpendulo. Noma kunjalo, njengabantu abaningi ngaleso sikhathi, lapho sengikhulile ngasonta—ngasonta eSontweni LaseHabe. Nokho, eminingi yemibuzo yami yahlala ingaphenduliwe. Ngokwesibonelo, esontweni sasicula iculo ngokwengxenye elalithi: “Isicebi enqabeni yaso, impofana esangweni layo. UNkulunkulu wabenza baba phezulu, wabenza baba phansi; wanquma ubunjalo babo.” Ngazibuza, ‘Ingabe ngempela uNkulunkulu “wanquma ubunjalo babo”?’ Ngelinye ilanga ngabuza umfundisi, “Uma uNkulunkulu adala u-Adamu no-Eva, lezi zinhlanga ezahlukene zavelaphi?” Impendulo yakhe, kalula nje, yaba ukuthi ukulandisa kukaGenesise kuyinganekwane.

Kwase kuthi phakathi neMpi Yezwe II, sakhuthazwa ukuba sithandazele amasosha aseBrithani. Lokhu kwangiqinisekisa ukuthi okwakufundiswa isonto lami kwakuphikisana nalokho engangikufunde eBhayibhelini. Noma kunjalo, ngazibuza, ‘Ngizoshonaphi?’ Ngakho ngaqhubeka ngisonta. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-24, ngashada noSheila.

Ngelinye ilanga ngangisanda kufika ekhaya ngiphuma esontweni, lapho kufika omunye woFakazi BakaJehova. Sasivame ukubiza oFakazi ngokuthi osihogo-kasikho, futhi ngangingenasikhathi sabo. Babeba nemihlangano emizini yabo futhi bengazigqoki izingubo zesonto. Okunye futhi ukuthi okwakwenzekile ekuphileni kwami, kuhlanganise nokushada nenkosikazi enhle, kwangiholela ukuba ngiphethe ngokuthi uNkulunkulu wayenginakekela.

Lapho lo Fakazi—uNesib Robinson—ezethula, ngangiphesha ithaya ebhayisekilini lami. Ngathi kuye: “Leli thaya liqhumile. Uma ungumKristu, ngisize ngililungise.” Ngabe sengimshiya khona lapho ngangena endlini. Ngesonto elilandelayo, lapho ngiphuma ngiya esontweni ngiphethe iBhayibheli esandleni, nangu uNesib enyuka izitebhisi. Ngamtshela: “Awungiyeke ngenkolo yakho. Umkami ungaphakathi. Khuluma naye.” Ngabe sengizihambela.

Ngazisola ngokusho lokho, ngoba esontweni, esikhundleni sokulalela umfundisi, ngangicabanga, ‘Uma uMnumzane Robinson nomkami beqala ukuxoxa, umkami angase angabi naso isikhathi sokupheka intandokazi yesobho langeSonto.’ Nokho sasingekho isidingo sokukhathazeka; lapho ngifika ekhaya, isobho lase lilungile. Ngifuna ukwazi, ngabuza uSheila: “Ukhulumile nalowa mlisa wakwaRobinson?” “Yebo,” ephendula. “Uhlale phansi washumayela ngesikhathi ngipheka.”

Akuphelanga sikhathi ngemva kwalokho, uSheila wamukela isifundo seBhayibheli. Wabeletha nengane yethu yokuqala, kodwa yazalwa ifile. Ngabuza uMnumzane Robinson ukuthi kungani izinto ezinjalo zenzeka. Waphendula wathi kwakungelona iphutha likaNkulunkulu kodwa kwakungenxa yokungalaleli kuka-Adamu no-Eva nangenxa yesono esasizuza njengefa kubona. Le mpendulo yanganelisa.

UNesib wayevame ukungivakashela lapho ngiseshabhu lami lokwenza ifenisha. Izingxoxo zethu zaziphathelene nomsebenzi ikakhulukazi, kodwa ngandlela-thile wayekwazi ukuphonsa iphuzu elilodwa elivela eBhayibhelini ngaphambi kokuba ahambe. Izingxoxo zethu zahamba zahamba zagcina sezigxile kakhulu eZwini likaNkulunkulu kunasefenisheni. Ngelinye ilanga nganquma ukumbuza umbuzo owodwa noma emibili eyayingihluphe ukuphila kwami konke, ngicabanga ukuthi naye izomehlula—angithi phela nabefundisi “bangempela” babengazazi izimpendulo.

Ngiphikelela nokuthi izimpendulo zikaNesib zisekelwe emiBhalweni, ngaphonsa umbuzo wami wokuqala, “Ubani owadala uNkulunkulu?” UNesib wafunda iHubo 90:2 kuyi-King James Version, ethi: “Kungakaveli izintaba, ungakawenzi umhlaba nezwe, kuthi kusukela phakade kuze kube-phakade wena-Nkulunkulu ukhona.” Engibheka, wathi: “Uyezwa ukuthi lithini? Akekho owadala uNkulunkulu; ubelokhu ekhona.” Le mpendulo ecacile nenengqondo yangimangaza. Lokhu kwangenza ngakhululeka, ngabe sengibuza yonke imibuzo eyayivaleleke ngaphakathi kimi yonke le minyaka. Izimpendulo zikaNesib ezisekelwe emiBhalweni, ikakhulukazi eziphathelene nenjongo kaNkulunkulu yokwenza umhlaba ube yipharadesi, zaletha injabulo engangingakaze ngibe nayo enhliziyweni yami.

Ukuya okokuqala eHholo LoMbuso kwaba nethonya elikhulu kimina. Kanjani? Ngoba ngamangazwa ukubona izilaleli zihlanganyela emihlanganweni—into engangingakaze ngiyibone esontweni. Umkami, owayengakaqali ukuba khona emihlanganweni, wayengekho ngaleso sikhathi. Lapho ngimtshela ngakho, wathi: “Ngizohamba nawe.” Sisalokhu sihamba ndawonye ngemva kweminyaka engu-55!

Mina noSheila sabhapathizwa kuyi-Atlantic Ocean ngo-1949. Ngo-1953, ngaqala ukuphayona. Ngemva kweminyaka emibili, noSheila wahlanganyela kanye nami enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, inkonzo eyathatha iminyaka engu-50. Ngo-1958 samenywa ukuba sibe sekilasini lika-31 laseGileyadi futhi sabelwa emuva eGuyana. Sakhonza emsebenzini wokujikeleza iminyaka engu-23 nanjengamaphayona akhethekile, okusalokhu kuyilungelo lethu lenkonzo kuze kube yinamuhla. Yebo, ngiyambonga uJehova, hhayi ngokunginika izimpendulo zemibuzo yami yasebuntwaneni nje kuphela, kodwa futhi nangokuvumela mina nomkami ukuba simkhonze.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 163-166]

“Nangu mina! Thuma mina”

UJoycelyn Ramalho (UMaRoach)

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1927

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1944

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Manje usewumfelokazi; wachitha iminyaka engu-54 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele ehlanganisa nomsebenzi wokujikeleza nomyeni wakhe.

Ngazalelwa esiqhingini saseCaribbean iNevis. Umama wayengumzali ongayedwa, engumWeseli nomhlengikazi. Wangifundisa ukuba ngikholelwe kuNkulunkulu. Ngenxa yomsebenzi wakhe, sathuthela edolobheni elincane elikulesi siqhingi. NgeSonto elilandelayo, saya esontweni laseWeseli, safike sahlala kwelinye lamabhentshi. Nokho, kungakapheli sikhathi, satshelwa ukuthi “abanikazi” bebhentshi base befikile nokuthi kwakuzodingeka sihlale kwenye indawo. Nakuba omunye owayekhona asibonisa umusa wasinikeza ibhentshi “lakhe,” umama wanquma ukuthi asiphinde silubhade kuleli sonto. Sabe sesisonta eSheshi.

Ekuqaleni kwawo-1940, ngenkathi umama evakashele umngane wakhe, wahlangana noFakazi waseSt. Kitts owamnikeza izincwadi ezithile. Njengoba ayekukhuthalele ukufunda, wahlala phezu kwazo lezi ncwadi futhi walibona iqiniso. Ngokushesha ngemva kwalokho, washada, futhi sathuthela eTrinidad. Izincwadi zethu zazingavunyelwe lapho ngaleso sikhathi, nokho sasikwazi ukuya emihlanganweni eHholo LoMbuso. Kungakapheli sikhathi, umama wanqamula ubudlelwane bakhe neSonto LaseSheshi waqala ukukhonza uJehova, njengoba nje nosingababa, uJames Hanley, enza.

NgiseTrinidad ngahlangana nodade osemusha ogama lakhe linguRose Cuffie. Ngangingazi ukuthi eminyakeni engu-11 eyayizolandela, ngangiyosebenza naye ensimini yezithunywa zevangeli. Phakathi naleso sikhathi, isifiso sami sokukhonza uJehova saqhubeka sikhula. Ngisakhumbula ngiyoshumayela ngedwa okokuqala. Emzini wokuqala, kwaphuma umninikhaya, ngavele ngaphelelwa amazwi. Angazi ukuthi ngema isikhathi esingakanani lapho ngaphambi kokuba ngivule iBhayibheli ngifunde uDaniyeli 2:44, ngabe sengihamba ngokushesha!

Ngaqala ukuphayona ngo-1950, futhi ngemva kweminyaka engaphezudlwana kwemibili, ngajabula ngafa lapho ngithola isimemo sokuba sekilasini lika-21 laseGileyadi. Abathathu ekilasini lethu babelwa eGuyana: uFlorence Thom, owayevela eGuyana; uLindor Loreilhe, engangihlala naye ekamelweni; kanye nami. Safika ngo-November 1953 futhi sabelwe eSkeldon, idolobha elingaba amakhilomitha angu-180 ukusuka eGeorgetown, eliseduze nesizalo soMfula iCouratyne. Iqembu elingalodwa labafowethu lapho lalisilindele ngabomvu.

Iningi labantu endaweni yaseSkeldon babeluzalo lwamaNdiya aseMpumalanga futhi bangamaHindu noma amaSulumane. Abaningi babengafundile, ngakho lapho sifakaza kubo, babejwayele ukuthi: “Bruck am up, Sista,” okusho ukuthi, “Awuchaze kahle Nkosazana.” Ekuqaleni, sasiba phakathi kuka-20 no-30 emihlanganweni, kodwa inani lancipha lapho labo ababengenaso isithakazelo sangempela beyeka ukuza.

Omunye wesifazane waze wathuthukela ezingeni lokuba afune ukuhlanganyela enkonzweni yasensimini. Kodwa lapho ngifika kwakhe ngesikhathi esasisimisile, kwakuwumfana wakhe oneminyaka engu-14 owayegqokile elungele ukuhamba nami. Unina wathi: “Nkosazana Roach, thatha uFrederick esikhundleni sami.” Kamuva sathola ukuthi uyise walo wesifazane wayengumSheshi oshisekayo, futhi wayemphikisa. Naphezu kwalokho, indodana yakhe, uFrederick McAlman, wathuthuka kahle ngokomoya futhi kamuva waya eGileyadi.—Bheka ibhokisi ekhasini 170.

Kamuva ngabelwa eHenrietta, lapho kwakunommemezeli oyedwa khona, umzalwane. Le ndawo yayinakekelwa yiBandla LaseCharity. Umata wami omusha engangiphayona naye kwakunguRose Cuffie, engiye ngaphawula ngaye ekuqaleni. Mina noRose sasichitha izinsuku ezine njalo ngesonto eHenrietta, bese kuthi njalo ngoLwesihlanu sihambe kusesekuseni ngebhayisekili amakhilomitha angaphezu kuka-30 emigwaqweni ewubhuqu siye emihlanganweni eCharity. Sasiphatha ukudla, amashidi, izingubo zokulala, namanetha okuvimba omiyane.

Sasishumayela endleleni futhi sime ukuze sikhuthaze abamemezeli abangabodwa nodade osepholile. Ngokuvamile sasitadisha INqabayokulinda kanye nabo. NgeSonto, emuva eHenrietta, sasiqhuba iSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda nezifundo zethu zeBhayibheli njengeqembu. Asizange sehlelwe yilutho olubi ohambweni lwethu, ngaphandle kokuqhunyelwa ithaya ngezikhathi ezithile nokuzunywa imvula sisesendleleni.

Injabulo yethu ayizange iphele. Empeleni, ngelinye ilanga omunye wesifazane wathi kithi: “Nihlale nijabule njalo; akubonakali kukhona okunikhathazayo.” Okwanezela enjabulweni yethu ukuthi uJehova wasinikeza inkonzo ethelayo. Ngisho nalowaya dade owayesepholile waqala futhi ukukhonza uJehova. Manje ngemva kweminyaka engu-50, usalokhu ethembekile.

Ngo-November 10, 1959 ngashada no-Immanuel Ramalho owayeyiphayona. Sakhonza ndawonye eSuddie, engamakhilomitha angu-23 eningizimu neHenrietta. Silapha, ngakhulelwa kodwa ngaphuphunyelwa isisu. Ukuba matasa enkonzweni kwangisiza ukuba ngibhekane nesimo. Kamuva saba nabantwana ababili. Noma kunjalo, sakwazi ukuqhubeka enkonzweni yobuphayona.

Ngo-1995, u-Immanuel washona. Sobabili sasikhonze uJehova emasimini amaningi ahlukahlukene. Sasibone amaqembu amancane eba amabandla achumayo, anabadala, izinceku ezikhonzayo, ngisho namaHholo OMbuso awo siqu! Sajabulela futhi nokuba semsebenzini wokujikeleza iminyaka eyishumi. Nakuba ngimkhumbula kakhulu u-Immanuel, ukusekela kukaJehova okunothando nokwebandla kuyaqhubeka kungiduduza.

Umprofethi u-Isaya waphendula isimemo sikaJehova sokuyokhonza ngala mazwi: “Nangu mina! Thuma mina.” (Isaya 6:8) Mina kanye nomyeni wami osewashona sazama kakhulu ukulingisa lesi simo sengqondo esihle salo mprofethi. Yiqiniso, njengo-Isaya, sakhuthazelela izikhathi ezinzima ngisho neziqeda amandla. Kodwa injabulo iye yazidlula lé izinkinga.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 170-173]

Isabelo Sami SaseGileyadi Kwakuyizwe Lakithi

UFrederick McAlman

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1942

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1958

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Ngemva kokuba seGileyadi, wabelwa emuva eGuyana. Manje yena nomkakhe, uMarshalind, bakhonza njengamaphayona avamile.

Lapho ngineminyaka engu-12 ubudala, isithunywa sevangeli esigama laso lalinguJocyelyn Roach (manje usengowakwaRamalho) saqala ukutadisha iBhayibheli nomama. Ngangihlanganyela engxoxweni. Umama wayeka ukufunda kodwa mina ngaqhubeka futhi ngaqala ukuya kuyo yonke imihlangano. Lapho ngineminyaka engu-14 ubudala, uDade Roach nezithunywa zevangeli ezazikanye naye, uRose Cuffie noLindor Loreilhe, babengithatha siyoshumayela ngamabhayisekili. Umoya wabo wokuba izithunywa zevangeli wangithonya kakhulu kunalokho engangikuqaphela ngaleso sikhathi.

Lapho ngiqala ukufunda noFakazi BakaJehova, ngangilungiselela nokuqiniswa njengomSheshi. Langa limbe umpristi wazama ukungichazela uZiqu-zintathu “ongcwele.” Ngemva kokulalela isikhashana, ngalibeka ngembaba elokuthi angikholelwa ukuthi le mfundiso iseBhayibhelini. Wabhavumula: “Ngiyazi ukuthi kunezincwadi ozifundayo, kodwa lezo zincwadi zinobuthi. Ungazifundi. Kumelwe ukholelwe kuZiqu-zintathu.” Kusukela lapho angiphindanga ngabuyela esontweni laseSheshi kodwa ngaqhubeka ngifunda noFakazi. Ngabhapathizwa ngo-1958.

Ngo-September 1963, ngathola incwadi evela ehhovisi legatsha ingimema ukuba ngithathe inkonzo yamaphayona akhethekile. Ngasamukela isimemo. Isabelo sami esisha kwakuyiBandla LaseFyrish eMfuleni iCourantyne, futhi umata wami kwakunguWalter McBean. Sakhonza unyaka ndawonye, sisebenza insimu esenhla nesezansi nomfula. Lokhu kwasiqeqeshela isabelo sethu esilandelayo—iBandla LaseParadise, elalinabamemezeli abayishumi ngenkathi sifika ngo-1964. Saphayona lapho iminyaka engaphezu kwemine futhi sabona ibandla likhula liba nabamemezeli abangu-25.

Ngo-1969 ngamenyelwa ekilasini lika-48 laseGileyadi. Ngonyaka ofanayo ngajabula kakhulu ukuba isimenywa somkhaya waseBethel yaseBrooklyn, ukuze ngikwazi ukuya eMhlanganweni Wezizwe ‘Wokuthula Emhlabeni’ ka-1969. Yeka ukuthi kwakuqabula kangakanani ngokomoya ukuhlangana nabafowethu nodadewethu abathembekile abaningi kangaka! Angisoze ngasikhohlwa isikhathi uFrederick W. Franz, omunye weNdikimba Ebusayo, asiyisa ngaso ekamelweni lakhe. Wayenezincwadi eziningi kangangokuba ngazibuza ukuthi uwubekaphi umbhede! Omunye umfundi omuhle kakhulu weZwi likaNkulunkulu kwakungu-Ulysses Glass, omunye wothisha bethu baseGileyadi. Ngisamuzwa namanje ethi: “Izimiso eziyisisekelo zokubhala kahle ukunemba, ukushaya emhloleni, nokucacisa.”

Kumelwe ngivume ukuthi ngadumala lapho ngithola ukuthi isabelo sami kwakuseGuyana. Kimina, eGuyana kwakusekhaya, hhayi esabelweni sakwelinye izwe. Nokho, ngomusa uMfoweth’ uGlass wangidonsela eceleni wangisiza ukuba ngibheke izinto ngendlela ehlukile. Wangikhumbuza ukuthi ukuba seGileyadi kukodwa nje kuyilungelo elikhulu nokuthi cishe ngiyothunyelwa engxenyeni engingayijwayele eGuyana. Nembala kwaba njalo, ngoba ngabelwa eBandleni LaseCharity ngaseMfuleni iPomeroon. Ngaleso sikhathi kwakunabamemezeli abayisihlanu eCharity.

Mina nomata wami u-Albert Talbot sasinokuhlangenwe nakho okuncane ngokuhamba emfuleni, ngakho kwadingeka sifunde ukushayela isikebhe. Kungase kuzwakale kulula, kodwa yizwa ngami, akulula. Uma ungayinaki imisinga nemimoya, uyohlala imindundu lapho noma uzungeze ndawonye ungayi ndawo. Ngokujabulisayo, sathola usizo oluhle kakhulu, futhi omunye wabafundisi bethu abakahle kakhulu kwakungudade wendawo.

Iminyaka engamashumi sasisebenzisa izikhwepha nezigwedlo ukuze sihambe. Isakhamuzi sendawo sabe sesifuna ukudayisela ibandla injini, kodwa lalingenayo imali eyanele yokuyikhokhela. Ngakho ungacabanga ukuthi sajabula kanjani lapho sithola isheke layo kanye leyo njongo livela ehhovisi legatsha. Kubonakala sengathi amabandla ambalwa ezwa ngandlebenye ngesidingo sethu futhi afuna ukusiza. Ngokuhamba kwesikhathi sathola ezinye izikebhe, saziqamba ngokuthi ama-Kingdom Proclaimer bese igama lilandelwa inombolo ukuze ihlukanise izikebhe.

Ngemva kokusebenza nozakwethu abangamaphayona ahlukahlukene, ngahlangana nalowo owayeyoba umlingane wami wokuphila, uMarshalind Johnson, iphayona elikhethekile elalabelwe eBandleni LaseMckenzie. Uyise osewashona, u-Eustace Johnson, wayaziwa kakhulu eGuyana, eye wakhonza njengombonisi wesifunda iminyaka eyishumi ngaphambi kokufa kwakhe. Manje njengamaphayona avamile, mina noMarshalind sineminyaka engu-72 enkonzweni yesikhathi esigcwele, ehlanganisa neminyaka engu-55 njengamaphayona akhethekile. Phakathi naleso sikhathi sikhulise abantwana abayisithupha.

UJehova uye wayibusisa nemizamo yethu enkonzweni. Ngokwesibonelo, ekuqaleni kwawo-1970, lapho sishumayela ePomeroon, sahlangana nomthungi osemusha owavuma ukuba nesifundo seBhayibheli. Wazibonisa engumfundi okhaliphile weBhayibheli. Samkhuthaza ukuba azi amagama ezincwadi zeBhayibheli. Akazazanga nje zonke ngekhanda ngesonto elilodwa kodwa futhi wayengakutshela namakhasi azo! Yena, umkakhe, nabantwana babo abangu-7 kwabangu-9 baseqinisweni, futhi mina naye sikhonza ndawonye njengabadala eCharity. Izibusiso ezinjengalezi cishe bengingeke ngizithole ukube bekungengenxa yesibonelo esihle sezithunywa zevangeli ezishisekayo zokuqala.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 176, 177]

Ngatadisha IZwi LikaNkulunkulu Ngeposi

UMonica Fitzallen

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1931

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1974

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Njengoba ayesendaweni engayodwa, watadisha iZwi likaNkulunkulu ngeposi iminyaka emibili, futhi wafakaza kabanzi kubakhaya bakhe abangamaNdiya aseMelika. Njengoba eseyimpumputhe, imibhalo azoyisebenzisa enkonzweni uyibamba ngekhanda.

Ngihlala esabelweni samaNdiya aseMelika esibizwa ngokuthi iWaramuri esiseMfuleni iMoruka, enyakatho-ntshonalanga yesigodi saseGuyana. Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1970, ngenkathi ngithola iqiniso, ibandla elaliseduze kwakuyiCharity, eMfuleni iPomeroon. Laliqhele ngamahora angu-12 uma uhamba ngesikebhe sogodo.

Ngahlangana noFakazi BakaJehova lapho ngithenga eCharity. UFrederick McAlman wangihambisela omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Phaphama!, ngabathatha, ngabuyela nabo ekhaya, ngabafaka ebhokisini lezingubo, lapho bahlala khona iminyaka emibili. Ngabe sengigula, ngalala phansi isikhashana futhi ngacindezeleka kakhulu. Yilapho ngakhumbula khona lab’ omagazini. Ngabafunda futhi ngabona ngaso leso sikhathi ukuthi yiqiniso leli.

Cishe ngaleso sikhathi, umyeni wami, u-Eugene, waqala ukufuna umsebenzi futhi wanquma ukwehlisa umfula aye eCharity. Impilo yami yayisiqala ukuba ngcono, ngakho ngahamba naye. Nokho isizathu sami esiyinhloko sokuhamba ukuthi ngangifuna ukuthola oFakazi BakaJehova. Akudingekanga ngibheke kakhulu; owesifazane onguFakazi wafika kuwo kanye lo muzi engangihlala kuwo. Ngabuza: “Ingabe ungomunye wabantu be-Nqabayokulinda?” Lapho ephendula ngoyebo, ngambuza ngendoda engahlangana nayo emakethe eminyakeni emibili ngaphambili. Ngokushesha wahamba wayobheka uFrederick McAlman, owayeneqembu labamemezeli ababesebenza insimu eseduze.

Lapho bobabili bebuya, uMfoweth’ uMcAlman wangibonisa ilungiselelo lesifundo seBhayibheli esebenzisa incwadi IQiniso Eliholela Ekuphileni Okuphakade. Ngavuma ukuba nesifundo. Njengoba kwadingeka ukuba mina no-Eugene sibuyele ekhaya, ngaqhutshelwa isifundo ngeposi. Ngafunda izincwadi ezimbili ngaleyo ndlela—incwadi IQiniso nethi “Izinto UNkulunkulu Angéqambe Amanga Ngazo.” Ngenkathi ngisafunda incwadi IQiniso ngasula ngokusemthethweni eSontweni LaseSheshi futhi ngaba ummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe. Umpristi wangibhalela ethi: “Ungabalaleli oFakazi BakaJehova. Abaliqondi ngokugcwele iBhayibheli. Ngizofika ngizoxoxa nawe ngale ndaba.” Kodwa akazange afike.

Njengokuphela kommemezeli esabelweni, ngaluhlanganyela nomakhelwane bami ulwazi olusha engangilutholile. Ngafakaza futhi nakumyeni wami, engijabulayo ukusho ukuthi wabhapathizwa ngemva konyaka ngibhapathiziwe. Namuhla u-Eugene ungomunye wabamemezeli abangu-14 bendawo.

Eminyakeni yamuva, i-glaucoma nolwelwesi olwenza iso lingaboni kuye kwangenza impumputhe, ngakho imibhalo engiyisebenzisa enkonzweni ngiyibamba ngekhanda manje. Noma kunjalo, ngiyambonga uJehova ngokuthi ngisakwazi ukumkhonza.

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 181-183]

UJehova Unginike ‘Izicelo Zenhliziyo Yami’

URuby Smith

Unyaka azalwa ngawo: 1959

Abhapathizwa ngawo: 1978

Umlando wakhe omfushane: Njengowomdabu waseCarib, wadlala indima ebalulekile ekumemezeleni izindaba ezinhle eBaramita, isabelo samaNdiya aseMelika esisenkabeni yeGuyana.

Ukuxhumana kwami kokuqala noFakazi BakaJehova kwakungo-1975. Ngangineminyaka engu-16 ubudala. Ugogo wathola ipheshana endodaneni yakhe yokutholwa futhi wangicela ukuba ngimhumushele lona njengoba ayengakwazi ukufunda isiNgisi. Ngimangazwe izithembiso zeBhayibheli okwakuxoxwa ngazo epheshaneni, ngagcwalisa isigqebhezane ngasithumela ehhovisi legatsha. Lapho izincwadi engangizicelile zifika, ngazifunda futhi ngaqala ukukhuluma nabanye ngamaqiniso angokomBhalo engangiwafundile. Ngaqala ngogogo nomamncane. Ngokudabukisayo, ubaba wayengakufuni nakukubona lokhu engangikwenza.

Kungakapheli sikhathi, ugogo nomamncane baqa-la ukufakaza. Zisabela esigijimini, ezinye izakhamuzi zeza ekhaya ukuze zifunde okwengeziwe ngeBhayibheli. Ngesikhathi esifanayo, njengoba ngiqhubeka ngifunda, ngaqhubeka ngiqaphela ukuthi kudingeka ngenze izinguquko ekuphileni kwami ukuze ngijabulise uJehova. Lokhu kwakuhlanganisa ukuvuma kubaba ukuthi ngangintshontshe okuthile eshabu lakhe, futhi siphinde sithelelane amanzi nomunye wabafowethu. Ngemva kokuthandaza kaningi, ngakwazi ukukwenza kokubili.

Phakathi naleso sikhathi, ihhovisi legatsha lahlela ukuba iphayona elikhethekile, uSheik Bakhsh, livakashele indawo yakithi. Nokho, uMfoweth’ uBakhsh akakwazanga ukuhlala isikhathi eside, ngakho yena nomunye umzalwane, u-Eustace Smith, kamuva owaba umyeni wami, bangifundela ngeposi.

Ngo-1978 ngaya eMhlanganweni ‘Wokholo Olunqobayo’ owawuseGeorgetown. Ekufikeni kwami enhloko-dolobha, ngaqonda ngqo ehhovisi legatsha ukuze ngibazise ngesifiso sami sokubhapathizwa. Bahlela ukuba u-Albert Small abukeze nami imibuzo abadala abayixoxa nalabo abafuna ukubhapathizwa. Yeka ukuthi ngangijabule kanjani ukubuyela eBaramita sengiyisikhonzi esibhapathiziwe sikaJehova!

Ngigcwele intshiseko, angipholisanga maseko ngaba matasa emsebenzini wokushumayela. Kwaba nabaningi abathakazela, ngakho ngacela abanye ukuba bakhe indawo yokukhulekela engesona isimanga. Lapho, njalo ngeSonto ngangihumusha INqabayokulinda yesiNgisi ngiyiyise olimini lwesiCarib. Kodwa ubaba waphikisana nomsebenzi wami futhi waphoqelela ukuba ngihlale ekhaya ngamaSonto. Ngakho ngasese ngangiqopha izahluko ezifundwayo ekhasethini, futhi omunye wabafowethu wayeyidlala emihlanganweni. Ngalesi sikhathi cishe babe yikhulu ababehlanganyela njalo.

Ngokushesha nje ngemva kwalokho, umkhaya wakithi wathuthela eGeorgetown ngenxa yezizathu zebhizinisi futhi ugogo wathuthela eMatthews Ridge. Umamncane wasala eBaramita kodwa wayeka ukuhlanganyela izindaba ezinhle nabanye. Ngakho umsebenzi woMbuso wathi ukunqamuka isikhashana kule ndawo.

EGeorgetown, ngahlangana no-Eustace Smith ubuso nobuso, futhi esikhathini esingatheni kamuva, sashada. Nakuba u-Eustace ayengakwazi ukukhuluma isiCarib, sobabili sasifuna ukuya eBaramita ukuze sihlakulele isithakazelo lapho. Ngo-1992 isifiso sethu safezeka. Ngokushesha nje lapho sifika saba matasa enkonzweni, sahlela nemihlangano. Akuphelanga sikhathi, inani lababeba khona lakhula laba cishe ngu-300!

Sahlela futhi ukuba kube nekilasi lokufundisa ukufunda nokubhala ngemva kweSifundo Se-Nqabayokulinda. UYolande indodakazi yethu yokuqala, wayesiza ngezifundo. Lapho eqala wayeneminyaka engu-11 ubudala futhi engummemezeli ongabhapathiziwe. Namuhla, yena nenye indodakazi yethu, uMelissa, bakhonza njengamaphayona avamile.

Ngo-1993 uJehova wabusisa iBaramita ngeHholo LoMbuso. Wasipha ‘nezipho ezingabantu’ ezazikwazi ukukhuluma isiCarib ezazingahola ebandleni. (Efe. 4:8) Kusukela ngo-April 1, 1996, saba iBandla LaseBaramita. Ngiyajabula nokubika ukuthi leli bandla lihlanganisa umama, ugogo, cishe kanye nazo zonke izingane zakithi. Ngempela uJehova uye wanginika ‘izicelo zenhliziyo yami.’—IHu. 37:4.

[Isithombe]

Mina no-Eustace namuhla

[Ishadi/Igrafu ekhasini 148-149]

IGUYANA—ISHADI LEZENZAKALO EZIPHAWULEKAYO

1900: Abantu baqala ukufunda nokuxoxa nge-Zion’s Watch Tower kanye nezinye izincwadi ezisekelwe eBhayibhelini.

1910

1912: U-E. J.Coward wethula izinkulumo emakhulwini abantu eGeorgetown naseNew Amsterdam.

1913: Kuqashwa ikamelo eSomerset House njengendawo yokuhlanganyela. Lisetshenziswa kuze kube u-1958.

1914: Kumiswa ihhovisi legatsha lokuqala eGeorgetown.

1917: Uhulumeni uvala ezinye zezincwadi zethu ucindezelwa abefundisi.

1922: Ukuvinjelwa kwezincwadi zethu kuyasuswa. Kuvakasha uGeorge Young.

1940

1941: Omagazini INqabayokulinda ne-Consolation (manje osekuyi-Phaphama!) bayavalwa.

1944: Zonke izincwadi zoFakazi BakaJehova ziyavinjelwa.

1946: Ukuvinjelwa kuyaqedwa ngo-June. Kufika izithunywa zevangeli zokuqala zaseGileyadi.

Ngawo-1950: Ifilimu ethi The New World Society in Action ibukiswa kulo lonke elaseGuyana.

1960: Igatsha lithenga isiqephu sendawo eGeorgetown. Izakhiwo ezikuyo zisebenza kokubili njengegatsha nanjengekhaya lezithunywa zevangeli.

1967: Kudlulwa inani eliphakeme labamemezeli abayinkulungwane.

1970

1988: Kunikezelwa igatsha elisha kuyo le ndawo ethengiwe.

1995: Kuqedwa iHholo LoMbuso lokuqala elakhiwe ngokushesha.

2000

2003: Kunikezelwa igatsha elikhona manje, endaweni entsha.

2004: Bangu-2 163 abamemezeli ababikayo eGuyana.

[Igrafu]

(Bheka encwadini)

Ingqikithi Yabamemezeli

Ingqikithi Yamaphayona

2 000

1 000

1910 1940 1970 2000

[Amabalazwe ekhasini 141]

(Ukuze ubone ukuthi indaba ihlelwe kanjani, bheka encwadini)

GUYANA

Baramita

Hackney

Charity

Henrietta

Suddie

GEORGETOWN

Mahaicony

Soesdyke

Bartica

Yaruni

New Amsterdam

Mackenzie

Wismar

Skeldon

Berbice

Orealla

Lethem

Essequibo

Demerara

Berbice

Courantyne

VENEZUELA

BRAZIL

SURINAME

[Isithombe esigcwele ikhasi ekhasini 134]

[Isithombe ekhasini 137]

U-Evander J. Coward

[Isithombe ekhasini 138]

ISomerset House eGeorgetown, eGuyana, imihlangano yebandla yaqhutshelwa lapha kusukela ngo-1913 kuya ku-1958

[Isithombe ekhasini 139]

UGeorge Young

[Isithombe ekhasini 146]

UFrederick Phillips, uNathan Knorr, noWilliam Tracy ngo-1946

[Isithombe ekhasini 147]

Ngo-June 1946, kwakhishwa lesi simemezelo esakuqeda ngokusemthethweni ukuvinjelwa kwezincwadi zethu eGuyana

[Isithombe ekhasini 152]

UNathan Knorr, uRuth Miller, uMilton Henschel, u-Alice Tracy (uMaMiller), noDaisy noJohn Hemmaway ngo-1954

[Isithombe ekhasini 153]

UJohn Ponting

[Isithombe ekhasini 154]

UGeraldine noJames Thompson bakhonza iminyaka engu-26 eGuyana

[Isithombe ekhasini 168]

Iqembu lishumayela ngesikebhe

[Isithombe ekhasini 169]

Bashumayela “ngeKingdom Proclaimer III” ngaseMfuleni iMoruka

[Isithombe ekhasini 175]

UJerry noDelma Murray

[Isithombe ekhasini 178]

UFrederick McAlman no-Eugene noMonica Fitzallen baxoxa ngezindaba ezinhle nendoda eyiNdiya laseMelika elungisa isikebhe sayo

[Isithombe ekhasini 184]

Umhlangano wesifunda eBaramita, ngo-2003

[Izithombe ekhasini 185]

Baningi abaye bamukela iqiniso leBhayibheli esifundeni saseBaramita

[Isithombe ekhasini 186]

Bashumayela ngesikebhe sogodo

[Isithombe ekhasini 188]

USherlock noJuliet Pahalan

[Izithombe ekhasini 191]

IGuyana—“ipharadesi lamaphayona”

[Isithombe ekhasini 194]

IHholo LoMbuso e-Orealla, eGuyana

[Isithombe ekhasini 197]

Ihhovisi legatsha langaphambili emgwaqweni u-50 Brickdam, eGeorgetown, laqedwa ngo-1987

[Isithombe ekhasini 199]

IKomiti Yegatsha, kusuka kwesobunxele kuya kwesokudla: U-Edsel Hazel, uRicardo Hinds, no-Adin Sills

[Isithombe ekhasini 200, 201]

Igatsha laseGuyana elisanda kwakhiwa